The hiring world is currently obsessed with "transformation," but while everyone is racing to automate, they’re accidentally automating the humanity right out of the process. In this episode of the Freedom of Work podcast, host Leah Cottham sits down with Kat Kibben, the CEO of Three Ears Media and a leading voice in the future of work, to talk about why efficiency is often just a mask for bad decisions.

Join us as we dive into why mass AI-related layoffs are often a financial smokescreen and why the monster under the bed isn't the technology itself - it's our own fear of uncertainty. Arguing that instead of using AI to replace humans, we should be using it as a force multiplier that allows recruiters to actually do the job they were hired for: building relationships.

Key Discussion Points:

• Why companies blame AI for layoffs when they really just want a quick stock pump.
• How to move away from optional rollouts and toward a culture where breaking things and sharing failure is encouraged.
• Why you should apply for the job even if you don't check every box (and why recruiters should let you).
• How to use bots for the boring stuff while ensuring every candidate has a clear line to a real person.
• Tangible ways to end the "ghosting" epidemic through radical transparency and strict timelines.

The Kibben Files: 5 Key Insights

1. If a tool makes a worker 10x more valuable, a profitable company shouldn't be firing them; they should be growing them. AI is an and, not an or.
2. Fear is the enemy of good decision-making. Success in the next decade depends on building a tolerance for what we don't know yet.
3. Your job has changed, but your job description hasn't. Starting with a blank page and asking what does a day in the life actually looks like? It is the only way to find the right person.
4. Hiring a 100% perfec match often leads to turnover within six months because the candidate has nowhere to grow. Aim for the 70% match to ensure long-term engagement
5. Use the machine to manage the checkboxes (like onboarding documents) so the humans have the time and energy to manage the questions and build trust.

About the Guest: Kat Kibben

Katrina Kibben is a keynote speaker, recruiting consultant, and the founder of Three Ears Media. They specialize in fixing the "recruiting speed bumps" - the unclear job posts and misaligned interviews - that quietly sabotage hiring outcomes.

With over 15 years of experience at global powerhouses like Monster.com and Randstad Worldwide, Kat is a LinkedIn Top Voice on Hiring whose insights have been featured in The New York Times and Forbes. They are also the authors of This Was All An Accident and The Bounce Back Factor: A Leader’s Guide to Liking Yourself While Leading People.

When they aren't on a global stage or redesigning the hiring process, Kat lives in Rockford, IL, with their girlfriend and the dogs that inspired the name Three Ears Media.