Episode 56 is here, and Russ Broomell and Maurice Hofmann are joined by someone who knows how to make sense of today’s noisy career jungle. Meet Timothy T., the driving force behind properpilots.org, where careers aren’t just managed, they’re flown with purpose.

This episode is equal parts wisdom and wit. Timothy reveals why success isn’t about throwing everything at the wall and hoping something sticks. It’s about sending the right signals that cut through the clutter. He shares how luck isn’t really luck at all, but a skill you can practice by showing generosity, following up in meaningful ways, and being findable for the right reasons.

Of course, AI makes an appearance too. Timothy doesn’t shy away from where it helps, freeing up time for real conversations, but he also points out where it makes us all sound like bland clones. And when the talk turns to interviews, things get delightfully real. Forget the polished theater - chemistry, honesty, and showing up as your actual self-win every time.

At the heart of it all is a theme that sounds simple but feels revolutionary: human decency. From closing the loop with candidates to taking an extra moment to treat people with respect, Timothy makes the case that careers- and lives - are built on relationships, not transactions.

Tune in for a conversation that’s funny, refreshing, and surprisingly practical. You’ll walk away rethinking how you approach work, opportunity, and maybe even your inbox. And if you want to see Timothy’s ideas in action, head over to properpilots.org, because flying blind was never the plan.

#CrazyPeoplePodcast #TimothyTweet #ProperPilots #RussAndMaurice #CareerGrowth #AIAndWork #HumanConnection #InterviewTips #WorkThatMatters #SerendipityStrategy #RussBroomell #MauriceHofmann

Human Decency in the Age of AI: Recruiting, Relationships & Real Talk with Matt Mann

Buckle up, Crazy People Podcast fans—Russ Broomell and Maurice Hofmann are back, and this time they’ve brought along a familiar face with a wealth of wisdom (and a few zigzags on the career path). Episode 55 welcomes Matt Mann, the global recruiter who’s not only helped companies hire in over 60 countries but also placed Russ and consulted Maurice in their own careers.

Watch the episodes on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/u1BgeFwFPAE

This isn’t your standard recruiting chit-chat. Matt takes us behind the curtain of an industry that’s been through whiplash-inducing shifts—from employer markets to employee markets, from pre-COVID chaos to post-COVID booms, and now into the uncharted waters of AI and automation. Together, the guys dig into the hard questions: How do you keep the human in hiring when algorithms and ATS systems threaten to strip the soul out of the process? What does “fit” really mean beyond the resume? And why is closing the loop—actually calling candidates back—one of the simplest yet most ignored acts of professional decency?

Between the insights are plenty of laughs, sports analogies, and personal stories—like the recruiter who ended up on the phone with Russ’s wife to prove the job was real, or the Queen-inspired Wayne’s World sing-along that proves authenticity never goes out of style. From cultural travel dreams to industry frustrations, Matt, Russ, and Maurice remind us that every “transaction” in business is really just a chance for connection, and that the right match is about more than skills—it’s about people.

Whether you’re a job seeker, a hiring manager, or someone who’s been ghosted one too many times, this conversation will give you perspective, practical takeaways, and a smile.

#CrazyPeoplePodcast #RussAndMaurice #MattMann #RecruitingLife #HumanInHiring #AIandRecruitment #CareerFit #NetworkingMatters #PodcastInterview #BusinessWithHeart

On Episode 54 of the Crazy People Podcast, things get savory, smart, and just a little unhinged in the best possible way. This week, Russ Broomell and Maurice Hofmann sit down with Matt Wampler, co-founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, who went from slicing bread in the back of a Jimmy John’s to slicing up restaurant data for predictive insights—without ever losing his sense of humor, hustle, or humanity.

Matt is a former Jimmy John’s franchisee turned tech founder, but don’t let the suit fool you—he’s still got the restaurant grease under his fingernails and the entrepreneurial fire in his belly. In this episode, he opens up about his wild transition from running stores with overflowing toilets and no-shows on shift, to building a B2B SaaS company that’s helping restaurants across five countries predict exactly how much pulled pork to prep—or when to expect a mob of cupcake-loving book club moms.

From building his first startup with nothing but a co-founder, some code, and a pandemic-induced side hustle, to now raising half a million dollars to close his seed round, Matt takes us behind the scenes of what it’s like to blend data science, AI, and pure gut instinct into something that actually helps real humans make fewer mistakes and sleep a little better at night.

He talks candidly about the brutal difference between managing real-time chaos in a restaurant and the long, slow feedback loops of tech startup life. He shares the frustrations of learning to code (and unlearning the idea that everything has to be urgent), and the very real lessons he’s picked up from venture capitalists, including why you should always test your internal champion early in a sales process.

Along the way, we cover everything from Taylor Swift and Springsteen to Magic Johnson’s Starbucks empire, the logistics of Japanese trade shows, the trials of Harvard’s data science courses, and why raccoons on meth might be a perfect metaphor for your next dishwasher-loading strategy.

If you’ve ever worked in hospitality, dreamed of launching a tech company, or just love hearing how far curiosity, hustle, and a bit of calculated chaos can take you, this episode is for you. It’s fast-paced, full of unexpected wisdom, and—like any great dish—best served with a story.

So tune in, learn something new, and maybe next time you order a sandwich, you’ll wonder: Did AI help make this happen?

Join the conversation and share your thoughts using #CrazyPeoplePodcast #RestaurantTech #ClearCOGS #StartupStories #HospitalityAI #MattWampler #SmartKitchens #PredictiveData #AIinRestaurants and #StayCrazy.