The Full Desk Experience

Hosted by Crelate

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Episodes

157

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Welcome to The Full Desk Experience, a podcast for leaders in the staffing and recruiting industry. Hosted by Kortney Harmon, Director of Industry Relations at Crelate, this show is designed to provide insights and tips from a highly knowledgeable consultant in the field. Join us live (or catch the replay) in our Workshop series, where Kortney delivers expert advice and actionable tips for you to take to your firms immediately. In the Industry Spotlight series, Kortney interviews industry experts and leaders, highlighting their journeys to success and key insights into the staffing and recruiting industry. Don't have an hour to dedicate to a podcast? Listen in to our FDE Express - where you'll get quick-hit insights and tips in 10 minutes or less. With new episodes dropping weekly, this is the perfect opportunity to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices in the industry. Don't miss out - join us for The Full Desk Experience today! If you'd like to attend the live session, be sure to visit our website for more information.

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60 recent

June 11, 202654 min

FDE+ | From Rolodex to AI: Why Relationships Still Win in Recruiting with Denise Chaffin, CEO of Top Source Talent

What happens when recruiting becomes faster—but less personal? Host Kortney Harmon sits down with Denise Chaffin, CEO of TopSource Talent and host of the Talking TA podcast, to explore why relationship intelligence remains one of the most valuable competitive advantages in an increasingly automated industry.Drawing on nearly four decades in talent acquisition, Denise traces the evolution of recruiting from Rolodexes and classified ads to AI-powered platforms. She shares why trust, transparency, and follow-through still shape candidate and client experiences—and how recruiters can use technology to strengthen relationships rather than replace them. From building influence through consistent communication to turning ATS platforms into relationship memory systems, Denise offers a practical framework for balancing efficiency with authentic human connection.Discover why the recruiters who thrive in the AI era will be the ones who use technology to scale trust—not replace it.________________Follow Denise Chaffin on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | DeniseFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: CrelateWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: The Full Desk Experience

May 28, 202646 min

FDE+ | Interrupt the Pattern: The Human Side of Recruiting in an AI World with Shad Tidler - Lushin

As AI handles more outreach and automation, the recruiters who stand out will be the ones who build stronger human connections. Host Kortney Harmon sits down with leadership consultant Shad Tidler to explore practical strategies for earning trust, adapting communication styles, and creating more meaningful client relationships in today’s recruiting landscape.Shad shares actionable insights on interrupting predictable sales patterns, using DISC principles to improve communication, and building trust through consistency, empathy, and transparency—without losing efficiency in an AI-driven world.Discover how relationship-driven recruiters can create stronger client alignment and stand out in the age of AI.______________Follow Shad Tidler on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | ShadFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/Want to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience

May 14, 202641 min

FDE+ | Monetizing Trust: Revenue Runs on Relationships with Rob Reznick, Founder Beacon

What happens when AI makes recruiting faster—but trust becomes the real differentiator? In this FDE+ session, Kortney Harmon sits down with Rob Reznick, founder and CEO of Beacon, to unpack why referrals, reputation, and human connection still drive the strongest business results in recruiting.Drawing from his background in tech, finance, and startup leadership, Rob explores the hidden cost of over-automation and why relationship-driven recruiting continues to outperform transactional outreach. From LinkedIn experiments to practical referral strategies, he shares how recruiters can strengthen credibility, build stronger networks, and create long-term business growth through trust.________________Follow Rob Reznick on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | RobCheck out Beacon hereFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: CrelateWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: The Full Desk Experience

April 30, 202658 min

FDE+ | Why No One Wants to Talk to You: Rethinking Staffing Sales in a Skeptical Market with Brad Bialy, Haley Marketing

Why has earning a conversation become the hardest part of staffing sales? In this featured session from the FDE+ Q1 Virtual Conference, Kortney Harmon sits down with Brad Bialy to unpack why today’s buyers are more skeptical, distracted, and informed—and what that means for relationship-driven revenue.Brad challenges outdated sales playbooks and introduces a system-first approach to winning attention. He breaks down the reality of the 72-touchpoint journey, along with the role of trust, consistency, and buyer psychology. The result is a clear path for how top firms are aligning sales and marketing to earn—not chase—conversations and build meaningful engagement in today’s skeptical market.Key Takeaways • Build systems, not just sales goals • Use marketing to support and scale outreach • Reduce risk to overcome buyer skepticism • Create clarity to stand out in a crowded market________________Follow Brad Bialy on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | BradSubscribe to the secrets of success hereFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: CrelateWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: The Full Desk Experience

April 16, 202633 min

FDE+ | Revenue Drift: The Hidden Threat to Relationship-Driven Revenue with Benjamin Mena, Managing Partner – Select Source Solutions

What happens when your desk gets quieter—but you’re still busy every day? In this FDE+ episode, Kortney Harmon brings a session from the recent virtual conference to the podcast—part of a series turning real, no-fluff conversations into standalone insights—featuring Benjamin Mena on “revenue drift.”Benjamin shares how distractions—AI tools, content, and constant activity—pull focus away from the fundamentals that actually drive revenue. He explains why pipeline slowdowns start months earlier, how inconsistent business development creates feast-or-famine cycles, and why top billers win by protecting simple, repeatable habits over chasing complexity.Key Takeaways • Why revenue doesn’t collapse—it drifts • The 60–90 day lag between activity and results • How inconsistent BD creates unstable pipelines • Why strategy without execution accelerates decline • The habits that keep recruiters in the top tier_____________________________Connect with Benjamin Mena Follow on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | Benjamin Mena Select Source Solutions: here The Elite Recruiter Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeliterecruiter/Explore more from Benjamin: This Is Your Year Summit: https://this-is-your-year-recruiter-summit.heysummit.com Elite Recruiter Community: check it out here Podcast on Spotify: check it out hereConnect with Crelate Follow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/ Want to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo here Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience

April 2, 202614 min

FDE Express | Why 2026 Isn’t the Year of AI — It’s the Year of Operations

Is AI creating advantage—or exposing inefficiency at scale? Kortney Harmon breaks down why 2026 won’t be defined by better tools, but by better operations.As growth slows and teams shrink, firms can’t outwork broken systems. Fragmented data, bloated tech stacks, and unclear workflows are quietly draining productivity—and AI is only accelerating the problem. The firms pulling ahead are doing less, better: integrating systems, tightening workflows, and turning scattered data into operational clarity.Discover why operational discipline—not more technology—is what will separate scalable firms from stagnant ones in 2026.______________________Follow Crelate on LinkedIn: CrelateWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience

March 19, 202630 min

Best of FDE| Thriving in the Post-AI Era of Recruiting with Aaron Elder, CEO - Crelate

This Best of FDE episode is a rebroadcast of one of our MarCom Gold Award winners—and honestly, it’s even more relevant now than when we first recorded it.In this episode of The Full Desk Experience, Crelate CEO Aaron Elder joins host Kortney Harmon to break down what it actually looks like to operate in a post-AI world—and what that means for owners, directors, and executive-level leaders.In this episode, we cover:What “post-AI” really means: Why AI isn’t coming—it’s already here, and how it’s quietly becoming as essential as electricityWhere firms are actually winning: How top teams are using targeted AI (not hype) to create real value and stronger client relationshipsThe shift to “living platforms”: Moving beyond static systems to tech that actively works for you, not just stores your dataWhere humans still matter most: In high-trust work like executive search, where AI supports—and where it can’t replace—the human elementWhat’s about to change operationally: From sourcing to back office, every part of your business is on the tableDo you know if the roles you’re filling today will even exist in two years?As AI and automation accelerate client expectations and reshape work itself, the firms asking better questions now are the ones that stay ahead.Hit play to hear how leading firms are thinking about this shift—and what you should be doing next.___________________Follow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience

March 5, 202648 min

Industry Spotlight | No Shortcuts: How Top Firms Build Durable Recruiting Businesses with Norm Volsky, Managing Partner - DRI

What builds a recruiting firm that lasts? In this Industry Spotlight, Kortney Harmon sits down with Norm Volsky, Managing Partner at DRI and leader within the Pinnacle Society, to explore why long-term success comes down to relationships—not shortcuts.Norm shares how top firms balance technology with trust, invest in operations to protect the client experience, and why reputation and delegation matter more than any single placement.Tune in as Norm breaks down what it really takes to build a recruiting firm that lasts—from choosing the right clients to investing in operations and protecting trust with every placement.______________________Connect with Norm VolskyFollow Norm Volsky on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | NormCheck out Direct Recruiters Inc. (DRI) hereOrganizations Mentioned in This EpisodeCheck out Pinnacle Society’s Website hereCheck out Sanford Rose Associates (SRA) hereCheck out Starfish Partners hereConnect with CrelateFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: CrelateWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience

February 19, 202657 min

Kortney Harmon Keynote | The Elite Recruiter- Selling Less, Winning More: The Power of Intentional Relationships in Staffing

What if growth in 2026 isn’t about doing more — but choosing better? In this keynote from Benjamin Mena’s Elite Recruiter Sales & BD Summit, Kortney Harmon reframes what winning looks like in today’s staffing market.In this episode, you’ll hear insights from Kortney Harmon’s keynote at Ben Mena’s Sales and BD Summit, where she explores why narrowing focus, redesigning revenue strategy, and protecting the right relationships are critical in today’s staffing market. As sales cycles lengthen and effort becomes more expensive, Kortney breaks down how intentional account selection, system alignment, and leadership judgment can eliminate wasted activity and margin erosion. From confronting burnout and revenue concentration to building repeatable processes that reduce reliance on heroics, she shares practical frameworks to help firms move from reactive selling to relationship-driven growthWhether you’re an agency leader, full-desk producer, or building the next phase of your firm’s growth, this episode challenges you to rethink where your effort is going — and whether it’s truly compounding.____________Follow Benjamin Mena LinkedIn: LinkedIn: BenjaminBenjamin Mena with Select Source Solutions: hereThe Elite Recruiter Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeliterecruiter/Follow Crelate on LinkedIn: CrelateWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: The Full Desk Experience

February 5, 202647 min

Industry Spotlight | Building Trust and Reputation in a Transaction-Driven Recruiting World with Elizabeth Rosenberg, Founder - The Good Advice Company

In an industry built on speed, what actually sustains long-term success. In this Industry Spotlight, Kortney Harmon sits down with Elizabeth Rosenberg to examine why trust and reputation remain recruiting’s most durable advantage.Drawing on decades of experience advising executives on communication and personal brand, Elizabeth offers a grounded perspective on how credibility is built through everyday behavior. The conversation explores where transactional habits quietly undermine relationships, why visibility without intention can weaken trust, and how recruiters shape their reputations long before deals are closed. Rather than focusing on tactics, this discussion reframes personal brand as a reflection of consistency, judgment, and how leaders show up when it matters most.The conversation reveals why lasting relationships—not speed alone—define long-term success, and how investing in trust and authenticity shapes both stronger firms and more durable careers.______________________Follow Elizabeth Rosenberg on Linked: LinkedIn | ElizabethCheck out her website hereFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: CrelateWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience