Podcast Spotlight: The Chad & Cheese Podcast

Welcome to Transform’s Q&A Podcast Spotlight Series, where we feature podcasts who are redefining people and culture, work, leadership, and technology. Join us to gain fresh perspectives and practical knowledge from those at the forefront of today’s evolving professional landscape.

About The Chad & Cheese Podcast

Bringing more than 40 years of combined experience to the podcast industry, Chad & Cheese add a unique perspective and brash flavor to the generally bland stew of hum-drum “yes-yes” and ass-kiss rhetoric that you normally get from people in recruitment.

The Chad & Cheese Podcast livestreams every Friday and you can access it on Youtube, Apple, Spotify and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

About the Co-Hosts

Chad Sowash: Chad Sowash isn’t just any voice behind The Chad & Cheese – HR’s Most Dangerous Podcast; he’s a bona fide recruitment industry wizard with more than 20 years under his belt, making even the most daunting HR challenges look like child’s play. Having rubbed elbows with the big guns of Fortune 500 companies and the corridors of government, Chad has crafted an art form out of marrying technology with talent attraction, all while keeping the compliance boogeyman at bay. His military background isn’t just for show; it’s the secret sauce in his approach to understanding any aspects of the workforce. Before becoming a podcasting icon, Chad was in the trenches at the dawn of the online job search revolution with Online Career Center, morphed into Monster.com, and played a leading role at DirectEmployers Association, where he was instrumental in launching the first complete National Labor Exchange. Not stopping there, he’s also been the chief experience officer for RecruitMilitary and a veteran recruiting maestro for Randstad Sourceright. Nowadays, when he’s not stirring the pot on air, he’s busy at Catch 22 Group, sprinkling his magic as an analyst and angel investor, because why not?

Joel Cheesman: Joel is a recruiting industry tech geek from the late ‘90s, when he worked at e-Span, one of the world’s first job boards, as well as JobOptions, CareerBoard, Jobing and Recruiting.com. He also did partnership shit at EmployeescreenIQ. You may also know him from his days as Cheezhead. Father of three, married and residing in Indianapolis.

Getting to Know You

Transform: What inspired you to start this podcast?

Chad & Joel: We started the podcast in early 2017 with the idea of what a simple conversation between two HR and Recruitment industry veterans would sound like at a bar after attending a conference. We focused on being ourselves, speaking our experience and dropping an F-bomb when we thought it was necessary. 

Transform: What is your professional background, and how does it influence your podcast?

Chad & Joel: Our combined industry experience is more than 50+ years of technology, recruiting, building systems and hiring infrastructure for and with F500 companies, federal and state governments. Also leading start-ups as founders, advisors, and investors. 

Transform: Is there a pivotal experience that shaped your journey or led you to podcasting?

Chad & Joel: Chad had just left Randstad and Joel had just started up Ratedly and we both saw  the need for a more “dangerous” version of podcasts while using the opportunity as a branding exercise. The podcast’s popularity quickly drove our collective focus from side-hustle to main-hustle.

Transform: How do you stay current in your field, and where do you find your inspiration?

Chad & Joel: Constant research with every publication, interview, and documentary we can get our hands on. We pride ourselves as being the freshest and most knowledgeable voices in the industry. 

About the Podcast

Transform: How did you choose the name of your podcast?

Chad & Joel: Chad Sowash & Joel Cheesman – The Chad & Cheese Podcast, catchy and simple.

Transform: Who is your target listening audience?

Chad & Joel: Target audience is the HR and TA industry including HR and recruiting professionals, tech startups, mature vendors, staffing, and RPO leaders. The entire industry is run on humans and technology, which is where we focus and thrive.

Transform: How long has the podcast been around, and how has it evolved since the beginning?

Chad & Joel: 8 years in March 2025 and all of our points of evolution were ideas from industry leaders. Whether it be new podcast series, topics, or interviews the listeners drive our focus and change. 

Transform: Do you have any co-hosts? If so, how did you decide to partner?

Chad & Joel: We had already known each other for about 15 years when Chad left Randstad and Joel had just started up Ratedly. We both saw  the need for a more “dangerous” version of podcasts while using the opportunity as a branding exercise. The podcast’s popularity quickly drove our collective focus from side-hustle to main-hustle.

Transform: What is the central theme of your podcast, and how did you choose it?

Chad & Joel: HR’s Most Dangerous Podcast is the theme, which means we will tackle any topic in our space, including workforce economics, immigration, wages, recruiting, retaining, upskilling, developing, leading, and of course technology.

Transform: How do you select your episode topics and guests?

Chad & Joel: Day-by-day, seriously the topic has to be sexy and hot and the interviewee cannot be a bore.

Transform: What key message or insight do you hope your listeners take away from your show?

Chad & Joel: Talent Acquisition and HR are the beating heart of every company, which means no company can ideate, create, sell, service, or retain customers without the people who watch over the talent life cycle. No company thrives and flourishes without HR and TA.

Transform: Can you share an episode or moment from your show that resonated deeply with you or your audience?

Chad & Joel: It’s a constant – as listeners engage with us every week.

Industry Insights and Perspectives

Transform: What do you think is the biggest challenge in [Talent Acquisition, HR, Wellness, etc.] today?

Chad & Joel: Understanding their power in the company. No company meets quarterly expectations with HR and TA. No company sells more products and drives more revenues with HR and TA. Until companies are run by algorithms and robots HR and TA need to understand their power.

Transform: What emerging trends do you see impacting the Future of Work?

Chad & Joel: AI, AI, AI… It’s going to continue being on everyone’s lips, although most have no clue how  to use these new  technologies, so research and many hours of listening to podcasts will be necessary in the coming years.

Transform: How do you think organizations should prioritize well-being or financial wellness for employees?

Chad & Joel: We’ve taken our eye off the ball and started buying into the corporate PROFITS over PEOPLE mantra. The problem is when you don’t take care of your people you lose productivity, attrition explodes, and revenues drop. We have to get back to focusing on the people and then the profits will grow  exponentially. 

Advice for Aspiring Listeners and Podcasters

Transform: What advice would you give to someone starting out in [HR/Talent Acquisition/Wellness]?

Chad & Joel: Research and consume information and a great way to accomplish that might be listening regularly to The Chad & Cheese Podcast.

Transform: For someone interested in starting a podcast, what would you say is key to building a meaningful show?

Chad & Joel: Do your research and treat the podcast like a business. If it’s not making dollars then it ain’t making sense. 

Transform: How can listeners best engage with your content?

Chad & Joel: Connect with us on LinkedIn, subscribe to our email at chadcheese.com, follow on YouTube, Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen or watch to podcasts.

Check out the The Chad & Cheese Podcast’s live broadcast at Transform 2025 and meet co-hosts Chad Sowash and Joel Cheesman!

Can’t wait for Transform 2025?

Mark your calendar for March 17-19, 2025, at Wynn Las Vegas. Sign up to stay in the loop and we’ll let you know when registration opens.