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Punk Rock HR

Punk Rock HR

By: WRKdefined Podcast Network
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Welcome to the Punk Rock HR Podcast, hosted by the influential and unconventional Laurie Ruettimann. This podcast breaks away from the traditional constraints of the HR world to bring you candid and compelling conversations with some of the most disruptive and innovative minds in the business. Each episode, Laurie dives deep into critical topics surrounding the real world of work, exploring the modern workplace's nuances, and challenging the status quo of HR. Guests range from renowned thought leaders, authors, and entrepreneurs to HR professionals and individuals who have reshaped the way we approach work and organizational culture. Punk Rock HR is not your usual HR talk. It’s a blend of insight, wit, and irreverence, aiming to bring a fresh, unfiltered perspective to the challenges and opportunities facing today’s workforce. Whether you’re an HR professional looking to revamp your approach, a leader trying to understand the people side of the business better, or just someone interested in the dynamics of the modern workplace, this podcast is your ticket to engaging discussions and actionable insights. Expect energizing conversations, guests with big ideas, and a punk rock twist, with episodes released every Monday. Follow the Punk Rock HR Podcast to keep your finger on the pulse of work, leadership, and human resources. Your journey towards a more progressive and enlightened workspace starts here!All rights reserved by WRKdefined Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • 315: Reference Checking with James Lord

    315: Reference Checking with James Lord
    19 Oct 2026
    James Lord says a background check tells you whether someone has been convicted of a crime, but a reference tells you about their character. He has spent nearly 20 years in HR tech, and the last decade of it focused on references. In 2025 he joined Refapp, a Swedish platform bringing structured, evidence-based reference checks to North America. Plenty of companies skip references or treat them like a box to tick. James says that’s a risk, especially when you’re hiring for roles that come with trust and access. With AI-polished resumes and teams that are only in the office part of the week, he argues that a real reference is how you learn how someone behaves when you aren’t watching. If you’ve ever skipped references to close a req faster, or called a candidate’s friend and learned nothing, this conversation is for you. In this episode, you’ll hear: How reference checking differs from background checking, and why people mix them up Why letting candidates pick any reference they want gets you nothing useful The 180% ROI James calculates for structured reference checks How to get references from people whose companies forbid giving them Why interviews miss counterproductive work behaviors like bullying How one reference turned into a brand-new candidate Why James’s upcoming DisruptHR talk is called “The Reference Check Is a Lie” Start your extended free trial of Refapp: https://www.refapp.com/hey-laurie-friend 00:00 - Intro 02:33 - References vs. background checks 03:53 - Taking the subjectivity out of references 06:38 - The ROI of checking references 08:40 - How Refapp works inside the ATS 09:54 - Who writes the reference questions 11:46 - Keeping reference answers confidential 13:09 - Getting around no-reference company policies 15:50 - The risks of skipping reference checks 19:01 - Making the need-to-have case 21:04 - Winning over reference check skeptics 22:19 - How Refapp differs from competitors 24:29 - Marathons and life outside work 26:33 - James’s upcoming DisruptHR talk
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    34 min
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