Best Podcasts for Executive Search in 2025
Nov 15, 2025
Wondering how top companies find and hire their leaders?
These top podcasts for executive search professionals provide a behind-the-scenes pass. Drawing on insights from experienced recruitment professionals, these shows reveal what really happens when executive search firms seek C-suite talent, how they assess leadership potential, and how technology is reshaping the entire process. Whether you’re a recruiter, an HR pro, or just someone fascinated by how big decisions get made, here are the best podcasts for executive search in 2025 worth tuning in to.
Executive Search Weekly
Produced by iSmartRecruit, the Executive Search Weekly podcast gives you quick but insightful conversations with industry leaders, recruiters, and executives. Think of it as your daily dose of expertise, from strategies for hiring top talent to new trends shaping leadership today.
In one of their standout episodes, hosts Adrian and Henna talk about what executive candidates now expect from search firms in 2025. They discuss how AI-driven matching systems, virtual reality interviews, and digital assessments are becoming the norm. This episode also highlights the importance of human connection. Furthermore, this episode highlights how candidates today value transparency, real-time feedback, and a genuine sense of a company’s culture. The takeaway for executive search firms is the need to adapt by blending tech and personal touch to create better hiring experiences.
Inside Executive Search
If you want real, in-depth wisdom from seasoned professionals, Inside Executive Search podcast is a must-listen show. Hosted by Scott Peterson, a long-time executive search professional, and Steve Yakesh, EVP of one of the top executive search firms, this show dives deep into how to attract, select, and retain senior-level talent.
One great episode features Chris Dardis, VP of HR Search and Consulting at Versique, discussing what companies can do when an executive suddenly leaves. Chris shared how they are often left in a position where they need to fill a role whenever an executive unexpectedly leaves their client’s company. They talk about using interim leadership as a bridge, sharing strategies to keep search firms stable while finding the right long-term fit. It’s like sitting in on a masterclass in leadership recruitment by veterans from one of the top executive search firms.
The Retained Search Show
The Retained Search Show is a podcast made for ambitious recruiters who want to master retained searches and close them with confidence. This show will provide you with real-life stories, practical insights, and proven strategies that executive search professionals can apply immediately to their workflow.
In one episode, Paul Press from Press Associates joins the show to discuss how AI tools, such as ChatGPT, are revolutionizing the recruitment process. They talked about which CRMs are best suited for search firms, how recruiters can utilize custom GPTs for faster research, and why, even in this age of AI, human judgment remains irreplaceable. They also discussed the three tiers of AI adoption and where executive search fits in. Paul also shared how clients choose people, not brands, in the executive search process. So, if you are an executive search professional who plans on leveraging AI, then this show is worth tuning in to.
Hiring Matters
Hosted by Ken Schmitt, he brings nearly 30 years of experience to Hiring Matters podcast, making it both insightful and entertaining. As the founder of TurningPoint Executive Search, Ken knows what it takes to build great teams, drawing on the wealth of knowledge he gained from working with a large regional agency and the globally renowned Heidrick & Struggles. The show is known for its mix of serious advice and “Recruiter Rant” episodes, where Ken candidly unpacks the industry’s quirks, challenges, and triumphs.
In his episode with Lisa Gable, a former White House appointee and advisor to Fortune 500 companies, they discussed the future of hiring where skills outweigh degrees, and where AI is the superhero women need to get back into the game. With her wealth of experience at the highest levels of government and business, she explores why intergenerational collaboration is crucial to a strong company culture and how encouraging employees to follow their passions rather than chasing a paycheck is essential for long-term success and satisfaction. This episode offers a forward-thinking perspective on what the future of hiring truly entails.
How I Hire
Hosted by Roy Notowitz of Noto Group, a boutique executive search firm, the How I Hire podcast was launched in 2019 by the firm as it explores what it takes to build exceptional leadership teams. Roy sits down with top executives to unpack hiring strategy, leadership assessment, and the culture behind successful organizations.
A standout episode features Kris Stred, founder of Stred Executive Search, who delves into the world of board recruiting, including the impact of an effective board and how to find experienced directors. With her legal and recruiting background, Kris offers a unique perspective from an expert’s viewpoint on why businesses sometimes need expert help to recruit the right board members, common mistakes in board recruiting, and how to avoid them. She further explains what makes board recruiting different from executive recruiting, the traits to look for in candidates, and why aligning values is crucial in building a balanced and effective board that truly drives business success.
The Recruitment Show by Lewis Maleh
Hosted by Lewis Maleh, CEO of Bentley Lewis, an executive recruiting team, he brings two decades of executive search experience to the mic. On The Recruitment Show podcast, he shared how most companies look for, assess, and hire new employees, as well as exploring the impact of culture and leadership within the workplace. With Lewis’s global perspective and authentic storytelling, Lewis gives his listeners access to the kinds of boardroom conversations that shape companies. If you’ve ever wanted to know what really goes on behind executive hiring decisions, this podcast delivers that insider edge.
In a recent episode, he chats with AI board advisor Henry Platten about how “agentic browsers” like OpenAI’s Atlas and Perplexity’s Comet are changing the job market. They discuss the rise of AI-driven roles, the tools shaping the future of work, and how leaders can adapt to massive shifts in hiring and productivity. If you’re an executive search professional planning to leverage AI, then this episode is for you.
If you’re curious about how recruiters are leveraging AI these days, here’s a great read on the unique ways they’re using it in their day-to-day work.
The Elite Recruiter Podcast
Hosted by Benjamin Mena, The Elite Recruiter Podcast is a must-listen for anyone in the recruiting field who wants to learn the mindset required, the tools and strategies used by successful recruiters, and how they convert their achievements into long-term growth. Whether you are a solo recruiter or leading a larger team, Benjamin delivers actionable insights that can help you elevate your recruiting game.
In a recent episode, Benjamin interviews Kelsey Boyd, founder of Day1, a consultancy specializing in strategy, operations, and project management. They delve into the hidden “operating systems” that drive high-performing recruiting firms. Kelsey discusses how she transformed organizational chaos into clarity and growth, highlighting her journey from marketing to operational leadership. Together, they examine how recruiters and agencies can overcome plateaus, navigate challenges during times of change, and implement practical frameworks such as the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).
If you are seeking to streamline your processes or scale your firm, this episode offers valuable strategies to help you develop a thriving, resilient recruiting practice.
Talent Talkbox
The life sciences industry faces its own unique hiring challenges, and the Talent Talkbox podcast delves into them in depth. From biotech to pharma and CDMO companies, this show explores how leaders are redefining recruitment and retention. Talent Talkbox’s strength lies in its focus on innovation, with each episode uncovering creative ways to attract and develop world-class talent. While this podcast is not entirely focused on the executive search niche, it’s a must-listen for anyone interested in specialized executive search or future-ready hiring strategies.
In one episode, Martyn Redstone, an expert in recruitment tech and conversational AI, shares how companies can integrate AI into their hiring strategies without losing the human touch. He breaks down key steps, such as optimizing current systems before adopting new ones and developing AI-focused skill sets, to stay ahead. He highlights how conversational AI and natural language interfaces or AI semantic search, can act as “co-pilots,” helping recruiters work faster and smarter. Martyn also discusses the rise of AI recruitment agents that can automate repetitive recruitment tasks, such as candidate outreach and screening, allowing recruiters to focus on strategy and relationship-building. To make this shift successfully, he also emphasizes the need for recruitment professionals to develop AI literacy, alongside timeless soft skills such as communication, curiosity, and problem-solving.
The Counter Offer
Hosted by Susanna Gray-Jones, a Cambridge-educated recruitment strategist and founder of Chime Search, a Rec2Rec executive search firm, The Counter Offer podcast is all about helping recruiters reach their full potential. Susanna’s mission is simple: eliminate mediocrity in recruiting. She blends practical career advice with mindset coaching, making it perfect for ambitious executive recruiters who want to grow personally and professionally in 2025.
In one episode, Susanna and her co-host, Tiarna, discuss when recruiters should walk away from bad clients. They share real stories about toxic relationships, ghosting invoices, and pushing unrealistic expectations. It’s a refreshing reminder that not every client is worth keeping and that transparency and integrity always win in the long run. This podcast is a must-listen for executive professionals who are on the same mission of raising the bar in the recruitment industry.
Ready to Put Executive Search Theory Into Practice?
Listening to these podcasts will provide you with the insights, trends, and strategies behind successful executive search; however, putting those lessons into practice requires the right modern platforms like Stardex.
Built specifically for executive search firms, Stardex AI is an AI-native ATS + CRM that helps you move from theory to execution. With features such as semantic candidate search, AI-powered data enrichment, multi-step engagement sequences, and real-time analytics, it streamlines every aspect of your workflow.
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