Edan Haddock - Total Talent 🇦🇺

In this episode, Edan Haddock unpacks Design Thinking through the Double Diamond model and why Talent Acquisition needs to stop jumping straight to hiring… and start designing better outcomes.Most TA teams are solving the wrong problem, just very efficiently. A role gets opened, a brief gets taken, and the machine kicks off without ever really understanding what’s broken underneath.This episode flips that.Edan walks through how to apply the Double Diamond in real hiring scenarios - from uncovering the actual problem, to redefining what success looks like, to exploring solutions that go beyond just “hire someone.”Because sometimes the right answer isn’t a hire at all.If you want to move from reactive recruiter to someone who actually influences business outcomes then this one’s for you.Expect practical questions, real examples, and a completely different way to approach every req that lands on your desk. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode, Edan Haddock challenges the future of Talent Acquisition and whether it even has one.As AI, hiring managers, and access to talent reshape the hiring landscape, TA isn’t being replaced overnight… it’s being quietly stripped back. But the real tension? It’s not just external disruption. It’s that TA backed the wrong future.From the rise (and quiet stall) of skills marketplaces to the over-engineering of talent frameworks, Edan explores how the industry invested in ideas that looked smart… but never changed behaviour.This episode is a raw take on what’s actually happening beneath the surface and what survives if Talent is to remain relevant. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode, Edan Haddock calls out one of Talent’s biggest blind spots - EVP.For years, organisations have invested heavily in crafting the perfect Employer Value Proposition. But in a world where truth is decentralised, candidates no longer rely on what companies say… they rely on what employees share.So what happens when you don’t control the narrative anymore?Edan unpacks the shift from polished messaging to real-world reputation - exploring why EVP is losing relevance, how candidates are validating employers through decentralised channels, and what actually replaces EVP in today’s landscape.This episode introduces a new way of thinking: Reputation, Experience, Proof (REP) and challenges Talent leaders to move beyond storytelling and start owning the reality.If EVP isn’t dead… it’s definitely been exposed. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode, Edan Haddock takes aim at one of the most outdated beliefs in hiring: that candidates who “move around a lot” are a problem.What if they’re not?From the collapse of traditional career paths to the rise of Workforce 5.0 and portfolio careers, Edan explores why the idea of loyalty tied to tenure no longer holds up and why Talent leaders might be filtering out exactly the people they need.This isn’t about defending job hoppers.It’s about questioning the system that labels them.If you’re still using tenure as a proxy for performance, potential, or commitment… this episode might change how you hire forever. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode, Edan Haddock challenges one of the biggest assumptions in Talent Acquisition.What if hiring isn’t a process to optimise… but a product to build?Most Talent teams are still operating like service desks. Taking briefs, filling roles, and measuring speed all while calling it strategy. But in a world shaped by AI, shifting candidate expectations, and constant organisational change, that model is starting to break.Edan explores what it really means to apply product thinking to Talent:Designing experiences instead of managing processes.Treating candidates and hiring managers as users.Iterating constantly instead of waiting for perfection.Using data as signals to improve, not just report.He also dives into the rise of augmented teams where humans and AI agents work side by side and what this means for how Talent functions are designed going forward.This episode is a challenge to rethink the role of Talent entirely.Because if you’re not treating hiring like a product… you’re already behind. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode, Edan unpacks what happened when he was matched with a mentee through Movember’s MoMentor program - and why it made him question everything we think we know about mentoring.Drawing on a past conversation exploring Mother/Daughter relationships in the Drag world, he challenges the corporate model of mentoring as too safe, too polite, and too low impact.This episode explores a different lens - one built on identity, accountability, belonging, and legacy - and asks a bold question:Have we completely misunderstood what real mentorship is supposed to be? Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

The End of CoEs and the Rise of Total TalentIn this episode, Edan Haddock takes on one of HR’s most established models… the Centre of Excellence.As technology accelerates and AI begins to take on more of the work traditionally owned by HR, Edan explores what this means for the structure of People functions. From the slow decline of HR Operations, to the identity crisis facing People Partnering, and the quiet disappearance of standalone OD… nothing is off limits.The big question: if those pillars start to fall, what rises in their place?Edan makes the case for Talent stepping into the spotlight… not just as hiring, but as the core operating system for workforce strategy, experience, and capability.This isn’t about HR being broken. It’s about whether it evolves… or gets left behind. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode, Edan Haddock dives into one of the most heated debates in modern work: return-to-office, hybrid, and working from home.Rather than taking sides in the location debate, Edan argues that the entire conversation is missing the real issue.The problem isn’t where people work.It’s how we measure work.Edan explores why he has always believed in Work/Life Integration rather than Work/Life Balance, why rigid return-to-office mandates risk pushing organisations backwards, and why measuring productivity through time at a desk is one of the most outdated ideas in modern leadership.He also looks at emerging discussions around potential legislation in Victoria supporting two days of working from home, and what this could mean for organisations that have enforced strict office mandates.The future of work, Edan argues, isn’t about location.It’s about outcomes, trust, and designing work in ways that fit real life. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode, Edan Haddock explores a difficult but necessary conversation for HR and Talent teams: bias inside our own profession.HR spends a lot of time helping leaders understand bias in hiring, promotion and performance decisions. But the deeper question is rarely asked.What bias exists inside HR itself?Edan explores the different types of bias that appear in Talent Acquisition and People teams, including affinity bias, confirmation bias and the subtle ways “culture fit” can influence decisions. He also looks at how bias shapes leadership pipelines inside HR functions, and why even the most experienced HR leaders are not immune.Drawing on real examples and practical thinking, Edan discusses how strong HR teams actively manage bias through structured hiring, evidence-based evaluation, diverse decision making and greater self-awareness.The episode also explores the role of AI and augmented teams, and why technology alone will never eliminate bias from human systems.This episode was inspired by a listener request and is a reminder that managing bias is not about perfection.It is about awareness, accountability and better decision making over time.If you work in HR, Talent Acquisition or people leadership, this is a conversation worth having. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode, Edan challenges one of the biggest assumptions in Talent Acquisition: that more automation means less humanity.After years of digitising applications, scorecards and reference checks to survive scale, AI is now removing the manual admin that justified those systems in the first place. If the work disappears, what’s left for recruiters?Using reference checks as the anchor, Edan explores whether AI could actually bring back conversation, judgement and network-driven hiring - and asks a bigger question: what deserves to be human again? Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode, Edan pulls apart the engagement survey playbook and asks a tough question: is it driving performance, or just collecting complaints?As engagement increasingly moves into Talent functions, Edan explains why this shift matters and why Talent teams are uniquely positioned to turn engagement from a reactive survey into a predictive, strategic lever. He dives into the structural flaws of traditional models - fragmented action plans, unclear impact, weak data integration - and challenges the culture of venting without accountability.Introducing the idea of Predictive Engagement, Edan outlines how organisations can align engagement to strategy, integrate it with performance and retention data, and build real predictive capability. This isn’t about happiness scores. It’s about performance, ownership, and Workforce 5.0 thinking. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode, Edan Haddock shares his perspective on the growing culture of audits, rankings, and public critique within the Talent industry. He explores how this trend can create fear, discourage experimentation, and push organisations toward safe, bland approaches rather than authentic ones.Edan argues that there is no universal best practice in Talent, only what is real and true for your organisation. He encourages leaders to listen to their people and candidates, embrace experimentation, and have the courage to build something authentic. Because ultimately, Talent is not built by critics, it’s built by creators. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode of the Total Talent Podcast, host Edan Haddock dives into the future of Talent in Australia and why our HR industry is leading the global transformation. From the electric energy of ATC at Fed Square to the reflective strategic depth of Ashton Media’s HR Retreat at Cape Schanck, Edan explores how homegrown events are shaping a new era in workforce design.He takes listeners behind the scenes of augmented Talent teams where Humans and AI agents (including his digital colleague, Joel) work together to create stronger candidate experiences, meaningful culture, smarter workforce planning, and more human connection.Australia and New Zealand are not following global trends, we’re defining them. This is a bold conversation about community, innovation, and why HR here is more advanced, more values-driven, and more future-focused than the world realises.If you care about the future of work — belonging, wellbeing, digital capability and what truly makes organisations thrive, this episode is unmissable. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

AI-generated résumés. Voice-cloned interviews. Dark-web fraud rings plotting to infiltrate your payroll. Sounds like a cyber-thriller, right?This episode of Edan Haddock – Total Talent rips the mask off the panic narrative and calls out the fearmongering. Candidate fraud isn’t new, and organisations with strong hiring fundamentals already shut most of it down without breaking a sweat.Edan argues that obsessing over AI-assisted deception distracts Talent teams from the real mission: leading the shift to Workplace 5.0, building smart governance, levelling up AI literacy, and designing hiring experiences where authenticity wins every time.Instead of playing talent police, we need to play talent pioneers.If you’re ready to turn down the fear, crank up the strategy, and rock a future where humans + tech = unstoppable, this one is for you. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

Edan Haddock dives deep into the messy reality of boundaries in modern Talent work. From 24/7 LinkedIn messages to global-time-zone burnout, he calls out the culture of constant availability - and offers raw, practical ways to protect your energy, your creativity, and your career. A sharp, honest, rock-and-roll reminder that doing meaningful work starts with respecting your own limits. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode of Edan Haddock – Total Talent, Edan Haddock takes Talent teams behind the curtain on how to research, design, and select a Talent Tech Stack that actually works.Forget the glossy vendor pitches and consultant playbooks — Edan lays down practical, no-nonsense tips that cut through the noise. He unpacks why every stack should start with the HRIS, how to test platforms through a total talent lens, and why teams should be cautious of “open API” promises and modular upsell traps.Listeners will also hear how to negotiate like a headliner by using PR as leverage, why short-term contracts are smarter than five-year anchors, and why going live with an MVP beats chasing perfection.Edan delivers it all with the trademark rock-and-roll edge of Total Talent — bold, clear, and built for Talent pros who want tech that amplifies strategy rather than slows it down. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode of Edan Haddock – Total Talent, Edan takes a sledgehammer to one of the most toxic myths in Talent Acquisition: that leaders in 2025 must “do more with less.” Instead, he flips the script — showing how the future of TA is about working smarter, not harder.Edan dives deep into the productivity revolution, exploring how AI agents, smarter HRIS platforms, and integrated talent ecosystems are rewriting the playbook. He unpacks why “strategy-only” leaders are at risk as data automation begins to shape strategy itself, and why being on the tools, building and delivering, is where the human edge remains.From Talent Advisory to the Total Talent methodology, from automation guardrails to bold predictions for 2027, this is a raw, edgy, and unapologetic call to arms for every TA leader ready to reject the old rules and lead the new productivity era. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

Skills-based hiring was once the rebel of recruitment. It tore down degree snobbery, broke open new talent pools, and promised a fairer future of work. But in Workforce 5.0, it’s already obsolete. In this episode of Edan Haddock – Total Talent, Edan rips into the myth of skills-based hiring, explains why static skills frameworks don’t survive in a world of AI and fluid roles, and lays out his theory: the future belongs to adaptability, fluid role design, and tech that amplifies human creativity. Expect rants, raw truths, and zero corporate fluff. If you’re still worshipping skills lists, it’s time to wake up. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode of Edan Haddock – Total Talent, Edan dives deep into a simple but powerful framework for building a Talent Acquisition and People Experience strategy: Partner → Inform → Transform.Drawing on a recent Movember Strategy Day as a live case study, Edan shows how his team built trust (Partner), used insights and storytelling (Inform), and created bold, practical change (Transform)—all in just one day. Expect post-its, moustache props, bold ideas, and a roadmap any TA/People team could run tomorrow.If you’ve ever felt stuck in the “reactive HR” cycle, this episode will give you a proven, energising way forward. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode of Edan Haddock – Total Talent, Edan dives deep into the hot topic of blind resumes and blind job applications. Sparked by two recent experiences—one colleague curious after reading about blind resumes, and a leading survey that framed them as “best practice”—Edan unpacks both sides of the debate.He explores the promise of blind applications in reducing bias, but also the pitfalls: loss of context, dehumanisation, inefficiency, and the risk of making candidates feel like numbers. Drawing on candidate feedback, research, and real-world reflections, Edan argues that while well-intentioned, blind resumes aren’t the future.Instead, he makes the case for hyper-personalisation in recruitment—approaches that make candidates feel seen, valued, and connected. This is a thought-provoking episode for anyone in talent acquisition, HR, or leadership, who wants to design fair, inclusive, and human hiring practices in 2025 and beyond. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

Host Edan Haddock unpacks how Talent Acquisition teams can step into the driver’s seat of succession planning.Edan breaks succession planning into two sides of the coin:The Person – using the 6-Box Talent Grid to assess performance and potential, and identify who’s ready now and who’s still developing.The Role – using the Role Criticality vs Vacancy Risk matrix to understand which positions pose the biggest business risk if left unfilled.Listeners will walk away with a practical blueprint to:Align internal bench strength with external hiring pipelines.Prioritise roles that demand proactive market mapping.Balance internal development with external diversity and innovation.Move from “reactive recruiters” to “strategic workforce architects.”Packed with frameworks, case studies, and hands-on advice, this episode is a masterclass in how TA leaders can future-proof their organisations by owning succession conversations. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode of Edan Haddock – Total Talent, Edan unpacks the results of a recent LinkedIn poll on Agentic AI in recruitment interviewing – and the Talent Acquisition community is split. While some teams are already using or testing AI tools, nearly half said “No Way.”Edan explores why this divide exists, the real benefits AI can deliver for candidates – from flexibility and accessibility to fairness and inclusion – and shares how Movember is using its friendly AI agent “Joel” to give candidates the choice between an AI or human-led interview.Listeners will hear about the diversity impact, examples of AI being used well in the hiring process, the risks and concerns holding leaders back, and Edan’s view on where AI interviewing is heading next – and how to balance innovation with humanity. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode of Edan Haddock - Total Talent, host Edan Haddock breaks down Favikon’s Top 20 HR Influencers in Australia for 2025.Discover the leaders shaping the future of work — from employer branding specialists and global HR executives to disruptors and community builders. Edan unpacks Favikon’s ranking methodology, spotlights each influencer’s role and impact, and explores big themes like the rise of employer brand, authenticity in leadership, mental health advocacy, and the power of niche expertise.A must-listen for HR pros, recruiters, and business leaders who want to know who’s driving Australia’s talent conversation in 2025. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this episode of Edan Haddock – Total Talent, Edan unpacks why Talent Acquisition leaders must stay on the tools to remain credible and effective. From proving your craft early and avoiding the trap of ivory tower leadership, to navigating the AI revolution, key hiring trends, and linking succession planning with external recruitment—this conversation goes deep into what makes modern TA leadership work. Edan also highlights the critical importance of candidate experience, reminding leaders that behind every résumé is a human story. Packed with practical insights, personal reflections, and a clear call to stay relevant, this episode is a must-listen for Talent leaders who want to prove value and lead with impact. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)

In this debut episode, Edan Haddock unpacks why he handed the Rubberband podcast back to the community and why unbiased, self-managed groups are so vital in HR and Talent. He introduces Edan Haddock - Total Talent—a raw, no-sponsors, no-guests podcast sharing unfiltered insights from inside the world of in-house talent. Expect straight talk on what’s really happening in recruitment and talent management, and why the industry needs more authentic voices from real leaders. Join the Edan Haddock - Total Talent community (formerly Rubberband)