#9 - Sean Page, Desirée Aguirre, Beth Wolfe, Stephanie Kara Jordan: LIVE from RecFest 2025 Day 2

Recorded live on Day 2 at RecFest 2025, this episode keeps the energy rolling with another round of rapid-fire conversations from the Purple Acorn livestream — mixing laughter, lessons, and the real-life chaos of recruiting. Mike Peditto sits down with four new voices to explore everything from AI tools and hiring horror stories to burnout, resilience, and why community is the recruiter’s true secret weapon.

Sean Page (TA Manager, Propel)
Shares how a startup mindset shapes his approach to “quality of hire,” why the best AI partners understand the hiring ecosystem, and a cautionary tale about a hiring manager’s lowball offer that backfired spectacularly.

Desirée Aguirre (Senior Recruiter, Hims & Hers)
Reflects on RecFest’s “carnival meets conference” vibe, a nightmare scenario involving visa sponsorship gone wrong, and how intentional team rituals and celebrating small wins keep recruiters grounded and connected amid the chaos.

Beth Wolfe (Senior Director of Recruiting, Daxko)
Finds inspiration in Johnny Campbell’s talk on agentic AI, then shares her own fresh recruiting nightmare involving a rogue hiring manager and an unapproved offer — a reminder that even seasoned recruiters aren’t immune to surprises.

Stephanie Kara Jordan (Senior Recruiter, The Washington Post)
Closes out Day 2 with a deeply human story — filling a role after a team member’s passing — and her mission to bring empathy and transparency to recruiting. She discusses neurodiversity, AI ethics, and why real connection still matters most.

Four unfiltered snapshots from RecFest Day 2 — proof that even under the blazing Nashville sun, recruiters show up, share stories, and remind each other why this profession still matters.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices