Episodes

  • $60 Billion Hidden in Plain Sight: How Small Businesses Can Claim Thousands in Tax Credits

    $60 Billion Hidden in Plain Sight: How Small Businesses Can Claim Thousands in Tax Credits
    Sep 10 2026
    File 42: In this episode of the Workforce Therapy Files, hosts Jamie Swaim and Molley Ricketts sit down with Ben Reno-Weber, CEO and Founder of Essential Innovations, to explore how companies can unlock over $60 billion in underutilized federal tax credits and training incentives. Ben explains that while programs like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) can provide employers with up to $2,400 to $9,600 back per eligible hire, less than 1% of small businesses take advantage due to perceived, administrative friction. Essential Innovations removes this barrier by streamlining workflows to help employers hire and retain essential frontline workers, including veterans, individuals coming off SNAP, and those overcoming past convictions. Beyond hiring incentives, Ben emphasizes the need to solve root workforce barriers such as childcare subsidies, transportation, and long-term career upskilling pathways. When building his own team, he prioritizes curiosity, optimism, and durable skills over simple technical execution. Discussing artificial intelligence, Ben explains how technology itself is a commodity and that real innovation comes from using tools to eliminate human friction rather than replacing human relationships. Key Themes: · Unlocking $60+ Billion: The Hidden Tax Credits Small Businesses Leave Behind · Hiring for Curiosity: Building High-Performing Teams in an Era of Change · Workforce Pell Program: A New Program for Shorter-Term Trainings · Breaking Workforce Barriers: Childcare, Transportation, and Upskilling Pipelines · AI is a Commodity: Why Human-Centered Relationships Still Drive Real Value · Lessons from Microsoft: Data, Automation, and the Shift Toward Durable Skills · Conclusion Episode Transcript Molley Ricketts: Welcome back to this episode of Workforce Therapy Files. Jamie and I are super excited to have an incredible guest with us today. None other than Ben Reno-Weber. Jamie Swaim: Yay. Welcome, Ben. Molley Ricketts: He is the CEO and Founder of Essential Innovations. We are looking forward to this episode and can't wait to get into where you're at with all of the wonderful things and follow up from a previous interview. So I'm going to kick it over to Jamie so she can catch us up to speed on where we are. Jamie Swaim: Perfect. Hi, Ben. Ben Reno-Weber: Howdy. Jamie Swaim: Ben is typing, right? All right, Ben, before we go in and dive into all the amazing stuff that we know we can talk about with you, I'm going to ask you a random question that just gets our juices flowing. But the cool thing about this segment is that we all answer it. Ben Reno-Weber: Okay. Jamie Swaim: Okay. So I want you to imagine that you're stuck in an airport for six hours. Ben Reno-Weber: Okay. Jamie Swaim: Seems like it happens. Your phone is dead. You forgot your charger. Okay. So you cannot use your phone. Ben Reno-Weber: Sounds glorious. Jamie Swaim: So you've got your laptop. What is the non-work thing that you open first? Ben Reno-Weber: It's a non-work thing on my laptop. So, I have been using AI to make art, and so I've been playing around with a couple of different things where something that I'm feeling or something that I'm experiencing, trying to use interesting prompts to make that into fun images or videos. Jamie Swaim: Interesting. I really want to see some of these. Ben Reno-Weber: So that's probably what I would be doing if it were laptop bound. Jamie Swaim: Okay. Molley, what would yours? Molley Ricketts: That's a great question. Golly. Honestly, truly opening my computer, it would be one of the other interests of business that if it weren't Incipio, then it would be one of our other businesses that we have going on probably to check in on them and make sure that we've got notes. Because like we said on a couple of conversations that we've had in the past, there's never a dull moment when it comes to the things that Molley is doing. Jamie Swaim: It also sounds like Molley cannot answer the non-work side of the question. Oh, Molley Ricketts: That's probably. Ben Reno-Weber: So can I offer a though on this? Jamie Swaim: Yes, please. Ben Reno-Weber: I think we make this artificial distinction between work and life that when I talk to my friends who live in Asia, they're like, "That is the dumbest Western concept that exists and that's a statement." Your work is part of your life. Molley Ricketts: For sure. Ben Reno-Weber: And so I think the more interesting thing is does it cost you or does it build you? Molley Ricketts: I'm that writing down. Ben Reno-Weber: Molley, if something that. I love writing pieces for LinkedIn. It gives me joy. Is it work? If you were using an accounting perspective on it, sure. But from a holistic life perspective, no, it brings me joy. Molley Ricketts: I love that. Jamie Swaim: Okay, that's fair. Molley Ricketts: I think too, I have always leaned into ...
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    35 mins
  • WTF is Back for the 2026 KYSHRM Conference!

    WTF is Back for the 2026 KYSHRM Conference!
    Sep 3 2026

    The Workforce Therapy Files team attended the 2026 Kentucky SHRM Conference, in Louisville. We took the opportunity to interview over 25 professionals who stopped by our booth.

    At the 2026 Kentucky SHRM Conference, the Workforce Therapy Files team is broadcasting live as the only podcast at the event. Hosts Jason Heflin (CEO of CrowdSouth), Jamie Swaim (HR Professional at Parcel), and Molley Ricketts (Head Honcho of Incipio Workforce Solutions) are inviting attendees to record quick sessions about the work they do and the problems they solve.

    This appearance marks the podcast's third year broadcasting from the Kentucky SHRM event. This is the group's 3rd consecutive KYSHRM conference.

    Because these live sessions are brief, the hosts remind guests that they can easily schedule longer, more in-depth interviews to elaborate on their ideas. Listeners who want to hear from specific professionals can also suggest future guests by reaching out via the contact details in the show notes. To make participation even easier, the podcast has recently adopted the ability to conduct interviews remotely via Zoom, or in person. The team closes by wishing everyone a great show and expressing their hope that these brief episodes prove helpful to the audience.

    Finally, be sure to watch or listen to each of this year's interviews at WorkforceTherapyFiles.com, and wherever you go for your favorite podcasts.

    That's where we'll leave the conversation for today. Before we close the file, we invite you to reach out to us with questions, suggestions or other comments. We'd love to hear from you. We hope you found this file insightful and helpful. Thank you for listening!

    Need Help Supporting Your Company's Recruiting and Staffing Goals?

    We're here to help. You can contact us via our individual websites, depending on your specific needs or questions:

    · Jamie Swaim, SPHR – www.ParcelKnows.com

    · Molley Ricketts – www.IncipioWorks.com

    · Jason Heflin – www.CrowdSouth.com
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    4 mins
  • The Death of Paper Time Cards | How Agentic AI is Revolutionizing Construction Payroll

    The Death of Paper Time Cards | How Agentic AI is Revolutionizing Construction Payroll
    Aug 27 2026
    File 41: Jamie Swaim and Molley Ricketts sit down with Nigel Coelho, General Manager of Agentic Compliance at Lumber, to discuss how agentic AI is transforming workforce management and compliance in the construction industry. Lumber is a payroll and time-tracking platform purpose-built to handle complex construction rules, such as certified payroll and union reporting. Nigel leads Lumber's agentic AI features, including a "headless" Paper Time Card Agent that digitizes handwritten paper time cards using Google Gemini's multimodal capabilities. This tool meets workers where they are, seamlessly bridging the gap between paper records and digital back-office systems like ADP. The platform also utilizes geo-fencing and biometric facial scans to prevent buddy punching, optimize labor spend, and assist with real-time job costing. Additionally, Lumber's "funding agent" automatically identifies opportunities for tax credits and federal funding by tracking apprentice ratios and prevailing wage compliance. Ultimately, these tools relieve administrative stress so subcontractors can focus on their skilled trades. Core Chapter Themes: What is Lumber? Purpose-Built Software for Skilled Trades Meeting Workers Where They Are: The Paper Time Card Agent Biometrics & Geo-Fencing: Mitigating Compliance & Buddy Punching The Skilled Labor Shortage: Apprenticeships & Infrastructure Navigating Prevailing Wage & Unlocking Tax Credits with the "Funding Agent" The Environmental Cost of AI: Water, Energy, and Task-Specific Models Episode Transcript: Jamie Swaim: Hello friends, and welcome back to the Workforce Therapy Files. We're trying a video podcast approach again for this file, and we are joined by Nigel Coelho. Hi Nigel. Nigel Coelho: Hey, Jamie. Hey, Molley. Thanks for having me on. Really appreciate it. Jamie Swaim: We really appreciate it. Molley Ricketts: Thanks for coming on the show. Jamie Swaim: Absolutely. Nigel, one of the things that you may not know is that Molley and I have both founded companies that have worked with individuals in the construction industry. And you also work for a company that basically exists to support the construction industry, correct? Nigel Coelho: Correct. Exactly. And there's just so much opportunity in construction. It's crazy. Jamie Swaim: Yeah. So the company that you work for, tell us about. Nigel Coelho: Absolutely. So I'm the General Manager for Agentic Compliance at Lumber. Lumber is a workforce management solution. Specifically think of time tracking, payroll, onboarding, scheduling. You name it, we have it. It's purpose-built for the construction industry. And the reason is there's all these nuances for compliance that need to be taken into account, like unique payroll or certified payroll reporting. Nuances, you wouldn't take into account in any other vertical. And so the idea is if there was going to be a payroll module purpose built for this, why not have those compliance rules built in? And that's exactly what Lumber is. But what I lead is a lot of the specific activities that happen outside the payroll module, specifically around the labor of reading long documents, trying to get a lot of information out. Those are perfect use cases for agentic AI. And so how do we apply that and make people do their job faster? That's my job. Jamie Swaim: Well, typically we like to get to know you as well as the company that you work for. So we're going to pivot for a second and do today's random question. Okay? Molley Ricketts: Drum roll? Jamie Swaim: Sure. Wow. I don't know if I'm ever going to ask Molley to do another drum roll. Okay. So let's imagine that you were stranded on a job site and all you have is what's in your vehicle. What would be the most useless thing in your vehicle? And what would be the thing that you would thank "past you" for putting in your vehicle? Nigel Coelho: What was the second part, again? Jamie Swaim: The most useless thing in your vehicle. Like, this isn't going to help me. And then what's the thing that you'd be like, way to go "past me"! Way to think ahead. What's the thing that you'd be most excited that is in your vehicle? Nigel Coelho: For a job site, believe it or not, if you had, for example, your time tracking app, I think that's the thing you got to take on site, partly because the amount of compliance issues we run into where people aren't clocking overtime and tracking their time correctly and how it flows in a payroll and what they get wrong. Oh my God. It's just crazy. And people don't get paid. So if I was on the job site, I wouldn't get paid if I wasn't doing my time tracking correctly, literally. Jamie Swaim: I love that you took a random question and plugged your product. Nigel Coelho: No, I'm serious. Jamie Swaim: Yes. No, I'm proud of you right now, Nigel. Nigel Coelho: It could be that because on the back end, I just see how messy it is if somebody doesn't log their time correctly. So I'm like, put me at the ...
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    31 mins
  • The New Era of Workforce Therapy Files: A Strategic Pivot for HR Leaders

    The New Era of Workforce Therapy Files: A Strategic Pivot for HR Leaders
    Aug 13 2026
    File 40: Jamie Swaim and Molley Ricketts announce a strategic pivot for the podcast as Jason Heflin steps back to focus on his agency, though the show will continue to provide "real talk" for HR professionals. A central theme of the episode is Jamie's shift from annual to monthly engagement surveys, which allows for "micro-movements" and real-time agility in responding to employee needs. This approach fosters anonymous, two-way dialogues that help leadership stay informed about the workforce's current mindset during town halls. Molley highlights the challenge of survey exhaustion but agrees that hearing from people, even if they are upset, is better than the silence of disengagement. The hosts also discuss the "three-legged stool" of organizational health, asserting that HR, Finance, and Operations must be equal partners at the leadership table. Molley emphasizes that a top-tier HR leader should be capable of assuming an interim CEO role because they understand the people, compliance, and operational direction. Furthermore, they explore the necessity of tailoring benefits to accommodate five different generations currently in the workforce. The duo looks forward to upcoming live events, including a recording at the Goodwill Opportunity Center on September 16th—which happens to be Jamie's birthday. Core Chapter Themes: · The Pivot: A New Season for Workforce Therapy Files · Agile Culture: Moving from Annual to Monthly Engagement Cycles · Anonymous Magic: Bridging the Communication Gap with Real-Time Data · Generational Gut-Check: Why "One Size Fits All" Benefits are Failing · Leading from the Seat: Why Your HR Leader Should Be CEO-Ready Episode Transcript: Molley Ricketts: Welcome to this episode of Workforce Therapy Files. Jamie and I are excited, disappointed, but looking forward to what it is that we're going to be able to do together. And we have some news for everybody. So, I am not great at drum roll as I've been told, so we're going to mentally think of drum roll, please. Jamie Swaim: Done. Molley Ricketts: Got it. What do you got for us, Jamie? Where are we headed? Jamie Swaim: So excited that we didn't try to generate a drum roll. Molley Ricketts: Do that. Yeah. The Pivot: A New Era for Workforce Therapy Files Jamie Swaim: Well, if we were to go back to the beginning of Workforce Therapy Files, it started when Jason, Molley, and I sat in a room and identified that our three companies were really targeting the same type of partnerships with companies. We were trying to find places where we could be long-term partners, solving problems to help companies thrive. And we were all approaching it from different angles, and we realized there wasn't any competition. If anything, there was a lot of complement in how we work together. So it started as projects that we would co-op for clients. And then we were like, "We should really let people hear the way that this conversation goes because we just enjoyed each other's company so dang much." And that still is true today, but we are making a pivot because of a number of different reasons. But ultimately, Jason will be devoting his time and energy to continuing to grow the amazing services that CrowdSouth provides to its clients. And Molley and I will continue to produce Workforce Therapy Files with the help of none other than Jim Ray. And we are going to highlight things that are still happening in our space. It is a little bit easier for Molley and I to get together because we live in the same community and have an opportunity to do that. But we are also using this type of approach more because Jim added white couches. And so now we are going to be virtual, because I don't think he trusts me to sit on a white couch. And I don't blame him if I'm honest. I don't blame him. Molley Ricketts: Well, when I get on a couch, typically I like to get comfy-cozy, get a little snuggle blanket, watch a good movie. So we want to make sure that we're focused and really generating those right questions to ask our guests. Jamie Swaim: Absolutely. Jamie Swaim: So, our hope is that Jason will continue to come back, from time to time, because I know that our listeners have really appreciated the way that our trio has chatted. But Molley and I believe that with the continued focus on having great interviewees for us to talk to and people who are out here blazing their own trail, we'll continue to have that kind of content. And we also have a couple of opportunities where we will be in person. Molley Ricketts: That's right. So a few things that we're going to be able to do in person. One coming up in particular is the SHRM Kentucky Conference that's going to be held at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky. We'll have our booth set up for guests to come and chat with us about who they are, where they are, and the topic of the year. What is really impacting workforce and the ...
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    30 mins
  • AI Change Management: A Practical Guide for Modern Organizations

    AI Change Management: A Practical Guide for Modern Organizations
    Jun 8 2026
    File 39: In this file of Workforce Therapy Files, the hosts sit down with Jenna Ahern, founder of Guardian Owl Digital, to discuss the rapid impact of artificial intelligence on business, leadership, and the future of work. They explore why organizations need intentional AI policies, stronger data governance, and ongoing employee training as AI becomes more integrated into daily operations. Jenna emphasizes that leaders must approach AI as a change-management challenge rather than simply a technology initiative. The group stresses the importance of creating learning environments where employees can safely experiment and build competency. Jenna also shares lessons from her entrepreneurial journey, including the importance of betting on yourself and recognizing that hustle alone does not scale a business. The file encourages leaders to embrace continuous learning and proactively guide their organizations through a rapidly evolving landscape. Key Themes · Meet Jenna Ahern · Entrepreneurship, Resilience and Betting on Yourself · AI is a Leadership Challenge, not Just a Technology Challenge · Why Every Organization Needs an AI Policy · Building AI Skills through Practice and Continuous Learning Episode Transcript Molley Ricketts: Welcome back to the Workforce Therapy Files. We are here today with an amazing guest, Mrs. Jenna Ahern. How are you doing today? Jenna Ahern: Hi, I'm so grateful to be here. Thank you all for having me. Molley Ricketts: Jenna is here with us today. She owns Guardian Owl Digital Agency. Look at me. I remembered. I usually just say Guardian Owl. So, the digital agency is the new part for me. We are excited to have you on the show today. Before we kick off though, Jamie has to ask one of her very unique questions. Drum roll. Jamie Swaim: But today we're going to do something a smidge different. Molley Ricketts: Uh-oh. Jamie Swaim: Because I like to keep it spicy. Okay. Jenna Ahern: Same. Jamie Swaim: Choose between door number one or door number two. Jenna Ahern: Two. Jamie Swaim: Okay, number two, tell us something that you think is ridiculously overrated. Jenna Ahern: Ridiculously overrated? Jason Heflin: Podcasts. Jenna Ahern: Podcasts. I know that's a really good one. I think right now and relevant to this, what's really, really overrated is Sintra.AI. Call it out. Jamie Swaim: Why? Jenna Ahern: Because I think that it has a lot of hype and they have a lot of marketing and they're doing a decent job. But I think that that to me is a very much hyped-up AI tool, just like a lot of the AI tools are. And so I wanted to say AI is overhyped, but I can't say that because it's not. It's real. It's serious. It is definitely here. I'm like, some of the tools are, so I went Sintra. Jamie Swaim: Okay. Jenna Ahern: That's how my brain operated on that question. Jamie Swaim: Alright. Jenna Ahern: Do you want a personal overrated? Jamie Swaim: Sure. You can do it however you want. Jenna Ahern: I don't have one. I need like a cross. Jamie Swaim: You can also point to anybody else here and ask them to popcorn it. Jenna Ahern: Oh, I know those Stanley cups. I think those are overrated. Jamie Swaim: They spill way too easily. Jenna Ahern: I don't have one. I never bought one. I think those are overrated. Jamie Swaim: Tell me, you don't have a teenager at home without telling me you have a teenager. Jenna Ahern: Exactly. I'm like, that's ridiculous. Jamie Swaim: Absolutely. Jenna Ahern: There you go. That's overrated. I probably had made a lot of people angry right there. Jason Heflin: So, what's underrated right now? How about that? Jenna Ahern: Water. Jason Heflin: Water. Jenna Ahern: I think we should be talking more about water and sustainability and ethics. AI is new, sure, but virtues and our environment hasn't really changed. There's still water around hopefully. Jamie Swaim: Yeah. Lots of question marks there though. Jenna Ahern: Yeah. Jamie Swaim: Yeah. Jenna Ahern: But that's underrated right now. Clean drinking water. Jamie Swaim: Jason, what's overrated for you? Jason Heflin: What's overrated? The McRib. Jamie Swaim: The McRib? Yeah. Jenna Ahern: Overrated or underrated? Jason Heflin: I think it's overrated. I mean, you know. Jenna Ahern: Have you last sampled? Jason Heflin: Oh, it's been years. I don't know. Jim said it. Jim said it. So I'm stealing Jim's answer. Jenna Ahern: Well, I heard they had a reckoning. That's why I was like, oh wow. Jason Heflin: Oh yeah. No, I don't know. Jamie Swaim: Alright. Molley, what do you think? Molley Ricketts: Yeah, and I knew this was coming around and I still can't think of anything. Jenna Ahern: I gave you like three minutes. Molley Ricketts: You did. Jamie Swaim: Want me to go first? Okay, it gives you a little bit more time though. You need to be thinking. Okay. For me, socks. Molley Ricketts: Oh, that's a good one. Jamie ...
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    38 mins
  • Behind the Mic: How Great Podcast Production Builds Strong Brands

    Behind the Mic: How Great Podcast Production Builds Strong Brands
    May 25 2026
    File 38: In this episode of Workforce Therapy Files, the hosts turn the tables and interview podcast producer Jim Ray about the growing role of podcasting in business, branding, and thought leadership. Jim explains why authenticity is one of the most important elements of successful business content. The conversation explores why podcasting creates from deeper, more engaging conversations that build long-term brand equity, as compared to traditional blogging and social media. The team validates the coaching and strategic guidance Jim provides clients beyond simply recording audio. This approach helps professionals communicate more effectively and confidently. The group unpacks how podcasting has strengthened their own communication skills, leadership presence, and team collaboration. Listen as the group shares humorous behind-the-scenes stories while also highlighting the discipline and consistency required to build a successful podcast. Today's conversation reinforces podcasting as a powerful platform for education, relationship-building, and business growth. Key Themes: Turning the Tables: Interviewing Podcast Producer Jim RayThe Hidden Work Behind Great Podcast ProductionWhat Separates an Average Podcast from a Great OneWhy Authenticity Matters More Than "Going Viral"From Blogging to Podcasting: The Evolution of Content MarketingHow Podcasting Builds Confidence, Communication, and Brand AuthorityThe Future of Podcasting and Why Long-Form Content Still Wins Episode Transcript Jamie Swaim: On this file for workforce therapy files. We are incredibly honored to welcome an amazing guest, and I know I say that often, but today our guest is the person who makes the workforce therapy files possible. Molley Ricketts: Yay. Jamie Swaim: You may have heard him referred to as Jim Jimmy Jumbo. Jason Heflin: I called him Jimothy. Jamie Swaim: Jimothy is one of my personal favorites. Absolutely. The Jumbotron. Molley Ricketts: Did that just happen? Jamie Swaim: It just did. Alright. Jason Heflin: Wow. Jamie Swaim: Yes. Our producer, Jim Ray, welcome to the show, Jim. Jim Ray: Hey, thanks for having me on. Jamie Swaim: Absolutely. Jim Ray: Good to see everybody. Jamie Swaim: So I like to start with the most random of questions. So I'm going to ask you to suspend belief for a second and act like you are a burglar who just does pranks. Okay And you sneak into people's homes just to mildly inconvenience them. Okay. So I'm going to give you some examples like mismatching all of their socks, mild inconveniences. What would be the signature prank for Jim Ray? Jim Ray: Throw pillows in the refrigerator because they have to wonder, how did I do that? Why did I do that? Jamie Swaim: He did that that so fast! He was like, I thought about, I've been waiting for the day that someone would ask me. Jim Ray: This was yesterday. What are you talking about? Jamie Swaim: Yes. I love this. I kind of want to round robin this for a second, Jim, because there's a lot of questions we want to ask you, but I'm also curious about the answers of other folks that are on this amazing file. Heflin, what's your prank? Jason Heflin: Oh my gosh. I would probably put different drinks in different bottles so they kind of see what… Jamie Swaim: Yes. Jason Heflin: Milk is in the orange juice and, you know. Jamie Swaim: Yeah, I like it. Molley? Molley Ricketts: I would probably do random things like put an egg in the mayonnaise or put the ketchup in the mustard. Kind of like your drink thing. Just everyday things. And you're going to do it and be like, what the, why is there an egg in the mayonnaise? Jason Heflin: Yeah. What I really like to do is I usually go over to Jamie's house and a hide her keys somewhere. Jamie Swaim: That's you that's doing that? All this time, I thought I was disorganized, you know what I mean? Jason Heflin: No. I sneak in on the weekends and before Monday. Jamie Swaim: Yeah. Molley Ricketts: So what about you? Jamie Swaim: I think I'd break in and leave stuff I no longer need from my house and people would be like, where did this come from? That is what I would like to do to people. Molley Ricketts: It'd be a great way to get rid of stuff. Jamie Swaim: Yeah. Because I know I need to declutter. And this would be like two birds, one stone. Yeah. Jason Heflin: I've got a cat. I'll drop off. Jamie Swaim: You'd be like, this dog really gets on my nerves. Jason Heflin: Yeah, yeah. Jamie Swaim: Yes. Jason Heflin: We've got two cats. One of them I like a little. Jamie Swaim: I do have a second alternative and we can put this up to a vote and that would be just in honor of my husband is to go in and just turn all the lights on or put the thermostat to the actual comfortable that everybody's got their degrees. They put it on in the winter. Jim Ray: 68 degrees. Jamie Swaim: 68 in the winter? So then I would go in the winter. Jim Ray: Well, 67 winter. It's ...
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    35 mins
  • Why HR Is Still Misunderstood in Business Leadership?

    Why HR Is Still Misunderstood in Business Leadership?
    May 11 2026
    File 37: In this file of Workforce Therapy Files, the hosts turn the spotlight on Jamie Swaim to explore her journey into human resources and leadership strategy. Jamie discusses why HR is often misunderstood in executive spaces and explains the difference between reactive HR support and proactive people strategy. They explore workforce planning, compliance challenges, and the growing complexity of managing people across multiple states and industries. The discussion highlights the importance of ambiguity management, resourcefulness, and cross-functional thinking for modern HR leaders. The group reflects on how meaningful relationships, mentorship, and practical experience have shaped Jamie's approach to leadership. The conversation reinforces the idea that strong HR strategy is deeply connected to business success and organizational trust. Key Themes: · Beyond the Support Desk: Why Executives Misunderstand HR · Proactive Workforce Planning: Scaling Without Surprises · The State-Line Trap: Navigating Multi-State Compliance Risks · From Middle School Passion to HR "Encyclopedia" · The Three Pillars of Modern HR: Ambiguity, Resourcefulness, and Empathy · Real Talk Over Theory: The Inspiration Behind Parcel Episode Transcript Jason Heflin: Welcome back to the Workforce therapy files. Today we're doing something really fun. It's the final in our series of interviewing the founders of our podcast. And we got Jamie Swain, one of my favorite people. Jamie Swaim: CEO. Jason Heflin: CEO. President. Supreme Leader. Molley Ricketts: Grand Poo-bah. Jason Heflin: Grand Poo-bah. Jamie Swaim: That's my personal preference. I'm just kidding. Jason Heflin: So thanks for being here today and taking some time out of your busy schedule. Jamie Swaim: Absolutely. Thank you for having me. Jason Heflin: Absolutely. I'm going to kick it off with some questions for your if you're ready. Jamie Swaim: I'm ready. Jason Heflin: Okay. So this is us interviewing Jamie as if we just didn't even know her. Molley Ricketts: Okay. Beyond the Support Desk: Why Executives Misunderstand HR Jason Heflin: So we may know some of the answers to these, but going to, I bet we're going to be surprised. Jamie, why is HR still misunderstood in the executive room? Jamie Swaim: I think it's because the day-to-day interactions before you become an executive with HR are support focused. They're compliance focused, and the further the individuals go in the HR space, the more it's strategy focused. And sometimes people ascend to the executive space before they've ever seen HR as a strategy. I think that's the biggest issue. And so they still want to interact as like, Hey, can you pull this report for me? Can you file this for me? Instead of, can you help me think through how our people will be impacted by this business need or this projected route that my company is going to go down? I think that's the biggest area that's misunderstood. Jason Heflin: Yeah, that's good. And it's true. I mean, it's easy to get disconnected or not be connected in the first place. Well, what's the difference between HR support and people strategy? Jamie Swaim: Yeah. I think the biggest difference is that support's in the moment largely it is reacting to what the challenges of right now and appropriate behavior, performance concern bubbled up. How do I help you through this navigate this tricky water moment that you're experiencing right now? Strategy to me is how do I make sure that the things we're putting in place right now align to where you want the company to go, but it takes being partners in that and understanding where companies want to go to be able to put strategies in place. Jason Heflin: Would you say it's proactive thinking over reactive thinking? Jamie Swaim: Absolutely. Jason Heflin: So I'm going to go off script a little bit. Jamie Swaim: That's fine. Proactive Workforce Planning: Scaling Without Surprises Jason Heflin: What's a quick thing that people can do to be better at that, to be better at that strategic long-term planning and thinking. Jamie Swaim: In terms of people? Jason Heflin: In terms of their people, in terms of talent. Jamie Swaim: I think the biggest one for me is really creating a workforce plan. Every year, companies get together and they say, what are the goals that we're going to have for this year? What are the budgets we're going to have for this year? And sometimes those are the only two things that leaders will do together to plan for their company. And they're not thinking through what that means from a people perspective. So you get surprised things like, we need to hire 45 people because we're supposed to start this on Tuesday. You're like, gosh, I wish I'd known that whenever I was putting together my team for this year. And those kinds of things can't continue to happen. If you want a seamless execution, if you don't want to do ...
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    26 mins
  • Why Hiring Is Broken: Moving Beyond "Check-the-Box" Recruiting

    Why Hiring Is Broken: Moving Beyond "Check-the-Box" Recruiting
    Apr 27 2026
    File 36: In this file of Workforce Therapy Files, the hosts spotlight Molley Ricketts, founder and CEO of Incipio Workforce Solutions, and explore her journey building a people-first recruiting firm. Molley shares how her early experiences shaped her belief that hiring should be intentional rather than transactional. The conversation dives into common hiring mistakes, including reactive recruiting and outdated job descriptions. They also unpack the real cost of bad hires and why culture alignment matters more than filling a seat quickly. Molley highlights the overlooked value of essential workers and the importance of recognizing their contributions beyond moments of crisis. The group discusses leadership growth, the difference between founder and CEO roles, and how to scale a business while maintaining culture. Practical insights around networking, strategy, and long-term talent development are woven throughout. The file ultimately challenges leaders to rethink how they approach hiring, culture, and workforce strategy. Key Themes: Molley Ricketts' Origin Story: From Corporate to EntrepreneurReactive Hiring vs. Strategic Talent PlanningThe Real Cost of a Bad Hire vs. an Open PositionEssential Workers: Why Their Value Is Still OverlookedScaling a Business Without Losing Culture and Leadership Identity File Transcript: Jamie Swaim: Welcome back to another amazing episode of the Workforce Therapy Files. Today we are continuing a theme where we're getting to know the hosts of Workforce Therapy Files, and today we are dedicating our time completely to the one, the only, the incredible, the author… Molley Ricketts: International bestseller. Jamie Swaim: The international bestseller. You're not supposed to do your own intro, but dang it, Molley Ricketts: I didn't want you to miss it. Jamie Swaim: I'm not going to ask Jim to redo it because… Jason Heflin: A quick plug, but international best seller for what? Molley Ricketts: She Knows Best. Jamie Swaim: Author of international bestselling book, She Knows Best, Molley Ricketts. Molley Ricketts: Thanks. Thanks for having me on the show. Jamie Swaim: Very good. Molley Ricketts: Thanks. Jamie Swaim: Molley. I know we'll give you some questions and you prepared some things that you definitely want to talk about today, but you're not prepared. Jason Heflin: We're not going to ask you any of those questions. Jamie Swaim: We're not going to ask you any of them. We've got a whole list. Molley Ricketts: I feel so unprepared now. Jamie Swaim: All right. If you had to teach a master class tomorrow about something that has nothing to do with your business or your job, what would it be on? Molley Ricketts: Boating. Jamie Swaim: Boating. Jason Heflin: That's Boating with a B, not voting with a V. Molley Ricketts: Oh no. You don't want me to teach that class! Jamie Swaim: How'd you get into boating? Molley Ricketts: Grew up around it. Jamie Swaim: Yeah. Molley Ricketts: I was driving a boat before I was driving a car. Jamie Swaim: So now we'll also call you Captain Molley Ricketts. Jason Heflin: She's been a captain for us lately, like getting some of this content ready and stuff. Jamie Swaim: Yeah. I don't know if you guys know this, but our podcast wouldn't happen if it wasn't for Molley Ricketts. Molley Ricketts: Oh, stop. Jamie Swaim: She gets us together. She tells us what we're going to talk about. She gets us guests. She found Jim. Yeah. Your face should be bigger on our sticker. Molley Ricketts: I like that. Jamie Swaim: But you're already in the middle, so I guess there's that. Okay. Molley Ricketts: The Red glasses. Jamie Swaim: So let's just like every hero or villain in a story. Molley Ricketts: Yeah. Molley Ricketts' Origin Story: From Corporate to Entrepreneur Jamie Swaim: They all have a good origin story. Let's talk about yours. Molley Ricketts: Okay. Jamie Swaim: What problem in the workforce space frustrated you so much that you were like, nobody else is doing this, so I'm going to build a company and I'm going to be the one to do it? Molley Ricketts: It stemmed from working with organizations that continue to look at recruiting as a transaction and checking a box to fill a seat. The opportunities that come with an organization that are intentional about the people that they're putting in those seats and that are intentional about the knowledge, skills, and abilities that they're bringing into the company. When you really think about it and make that decision based on growth and succession, instead of checking-the-box, you change the game. And for so long, the companies that I was working with, that's all they wanted to do. Jamie Swaim: Yeah. I got you. Molley Ricketts: Yeah. Jamie Swaim: Your company's name is Incipio. We didn't mention that in the intro. Jason Heflin: Incipio Works. Jamie Swaim: Incipio Workforce Solutions. Yep. So was Incipio the first company you started? Molley Ricketts: It was not...
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    27 mins