Explore every episode of the podcast The Bad Hire Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| He Tried to Hide Alcohol in a Coffee Cup | 15 Apr 2026 | 00:19:28 | |
What do you do when a new hire shows up to orientationā¦ drunkā¦ at a substance abuse treatment center? | |||
| He Did a Zoom Interviewā¦ Completely Naked | 08 Apr 2026 | 00:24:48 | |
What do you do when a candidate shows up to a job interviewā¦ completely naked? In Episode 27 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Nathan, and Emma are back reacting to some of the most unbelievable hiring stories yet ā including a Zoom interview that instantly went off the rails, a toxic employee who thought he was above everyone, and a hire who couldnāt complete the most basic part of their job. This episode is chaotic, hilarious, and painfully real. Youāll hear: ā A candidate who stayed naked during a Zoom interviewā¦ even after being told ā A junior employee who tried to go behind his bossās back and take his job ā An admin who couldnāt even write down a phone number ā A referral hire who completely self-destructed in the interview ā And a toxic employee whose ego eventually caused a major company issue These stories arenāt just ridiculous ā theyāre reminders of how attitude, awareness, and accountability matter just as much as skill. šø Think youāve heard worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. āø» Key Takeaways: ā¢ Confidence without competence is dangerous. ā¢ Ego can destroy team culture fast. ā¢ Basic responsibilities matter more than you think. ā¢ Interviews reveal more than rĆ©sumĆ©s ever will. ā¢ The smallest red flags often lead to the biggest problems. āø» Connect with Us: š Website: TheBadHire.comļæ¼ š§ Email: team@thebadhire.com š± Instagram: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š Facebook: facebook.com/thebadhirepodļæ¼ šµ TikTok: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š¼ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thebadhireļæ¼ ā Sponsored by BChex: Need better background checks? BChex makes hiring safer, faster, and simpler. From visitor management to employee monitoringāBChex has you covered. www.bchex.io ā šļø Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.comļæ¼ | |||
| He Faked a $1M Offer Letter to Get a Raise | 06 Feb 2026 | 00:26:28 | |
How far would someone go to get a raise? In Episode 18 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Nathan, and Emma react to one of the wildest stories yetāabout a guy who edited his $60K offer letterā¦ and turned it into $1 million. Plus: a top-secret āgovernment projectā excuse, gambling theft, and a hiring manager who refuses to work with anyone wearing the color orange (seriously). Youāll hear: ā Why people lie their way into roles they canāt handle ā What to do when an employee confesses to a crime ā The psychological chaos of firing a āfriendā ā What a True Colors personality test has to do with oranges ā And the worst fake excuse for skipping workāmaybe ever šø Want to win $10,000? Submit your bad hire story now at TheBadHire.comļæ¼ Key Takeaways: ā¢ People donāt always lie for the jobāthey lie to keep it. ā¢ HR isnāt just about rulesāitās about reading people. ā¢ Donāt ignore red flags just because theyāre ānice.ā ā¢ If your hiring manager wonāt work with someone over a colorā¦ fix that. āø» Connect with Us: š Website: TheBadHire.comļæ¼ š§ Email: team@thebadhire.com š± Instagram: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š Facebook: facebook.com/thebadhirepodļæ¼ šµ TikTok: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š¼ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thebadhireļæ¼ ā Sponsored by BChex: Need better background checks? BChex makes hiring safer, faster, and simpler. From visitor management to employee monitoringāBChex has you covered. www.bchex.io ā šļø Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.comļæ¼ | |||
| She Came to Tutor Kidsā¦ Drunk | 28 Jan 2026 | 00:34:21 | |
What happens when a seemingly perfect candidate walks in on day oneā¦ and immediately proves sheās not the same person you hired? | |||
| Hiring Is a Skill - Interview With Laura Mazzulo of East Side Staffing and Ken Monroe, CEO of Bchex | 21 Jan 2026 | 00:53:13 | |
Follow Laura at www.EastSideStaffing.com and āØāŖ@learnwithlaurahrā¬ on all platforms!In Episode 16 of The Bad Hire, Ken (CEO of āŖ@bchexscreensā¬ ) and Nathan are joined by guest Laura Mazzullo (āŖ@learnwithlaurahrā¬ founder of East Side Staffing) for a raw, funny, and practical breakdown of how hiring actually worksāand why most teams get it so wrong.
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| He Fumbled a $500,000 Dealā¦ and Still Didnāt Get Fired | 14 Jan 2026 | 00:39:40 | |
What happens when you blow a $500,000 client shootā¦ and your boss still takes you to dinner? In Episode 15 of The Bad Hire, Ken and Nathan sit down with guest Hudson, founder of Unify Visual Marketing, to unpack what excellence looks like, even when things fall apart. | |||
| Lawyer Found Passed Out in Office Bathroom | EP 14 | 07 Jan 2026 | 00:20:21 | |
What do you do when your brand-new attorney is found high in a bathroom stallājust four days into the job? Or when a retail worker starts running a full-blown refund scam out of the storeās register? | |||
| The Marketing Director Used PTO for Jail Time | EP 13 | 31 Dec 2025 | 00:20:06 | |
What happens when your marketing director gets arrested for a DUIā¦ in the company carā¦ then uses his PTO to cover the week he was in jail? | |||
| One Email Ruined This Guy's Career | EP 12 | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:31:29 | |
What happens when a āperfect hireā walks out for a smoke breakā¦ and is later found drunk in the street insisting they didnāt even work that day? Or when a rookie news anchor forgets the one rule of live televisionāand says the quiet part out loud to an entire state? | |||
| He Lied About Getting Into MIT to Get the Job | EP 11 | 10 Dec 2025 | 00:30:01 | |
What do you do when a new hire claims he got into MITā¦ two years in advance? Or when military police walk into your office to arrest your newest employee? In Episode 11 of The Bad Hire, Ken Monroe and returning guest Emma Morgan dive into real stories of outrageous lies, awkward bathroom moments, and one guy who tried to earn sympathy (and pizza) with a totally fake acceptance letter. Youāll hear: ā An employee who lied about MIT and got busted with Google ā A guy arrested mid-shift by military police ā A compulsive liar who left toothbrushes on his desk to fake all-nighters ā A 50-year-old feud involving headlights and petty parking wars ā A woman who relieved herself next to her carā¦ and claimed it wasnāt her ā A receptionist fired on day one for yelling at the CEO over a stapler These stories arenāt just shockingātheyāre reminders that the red flags donāt disappear after the interview. šø Want to win $10,000? Submit your bad hire story now at TheBadHire.comļæ¼ Key Takeaways: ā¢ If they say āI got into MITā¦ in two yearsā ā check the calendar. ā¢ Red flags donāt vanish with a uniform and a smile. ā¢ Never underestimate petty workplace wars (or parking lot poop). ā¢ Trust your gutāand your background checks. | |||
| She Got Firedā¦ Then Her Sister Called to Threaten Us | EP 10 | 03 Dec 2025 | 00:23:14 | |
What do you do when an employee vanishes with your money, another claims to be Alexander Hamilton reincarnated, and a fired workerās sister calls your office to threaten you? | |||
| He Put āBatmanā on His Job Applicationā¦ Twice | EP 9 | 26 Nov 2025 | 00:33:06 | |
What do you do when a job applicant legally changes his name to Batmanā¦ and actually gets hired? Or when a fired employee pulls out two bottles of wine and downs them on the spot? In Episode 9 ofĀ The Bad Hire, Ken, Dallan, and Nathan break down real hiring horror stories that will have you laughing, cringing, and reconsidering your next job offer. Youāll hear: ā A twin brother cover-up for a cookie shop meltdown ā An intern who thought āThatās not my jobā was a good answer ā A guy who legally tried to become Batmanā¦ for work ā A receptionist who faked her husbandās death for vacation time ā And a former employee who just wouldnāt go away (thanks, DoorDash)These stories arenāt just funny ātheyāre full of caution signs for hiring managers everywhere. šø Want to win $10,000? Submit your bad hire story now at TheBadHire.com. Key Takeaways: ā¢ You canāt train away delusion. ā¢ Interns need professionalism, not entitlement. ā¢ A quirky hire is fine. A fake-dead-husband hire? Not so much. ā¢ Sometimes the red flags arenāt even redātheyāre wine-soaked. | |||
| The Creepiest Hiring Story Weāve Heard Yet | 01 Apr 2026 | 00:24:48 | |
What do you do when an employee literally follows you homeā¦ and starts asking security about your personal life? In this episode of The Bad Hire, Ken, Nathan, and Morgan react to some of the most unsettling, bizarre, and downright unbelievable hiring stories yet ā including one that crosses the line from bad hireā¦ to genuinely creepy. ļæ¼ From a candidate inventing his own language mid-interview to a paralegal who deleted critical legal records instead of doing his job, this episode is packed with chaos, confusion, and a few surprisingly wholesome moments. Youāll hear: ā An employee who followed his boss home and questioned security about her life ā A candidate who conducted an entire interview in a made-up language ā A senior employee involved in a criminal investigationā¦ who got saved by leadership ā A paralegal who deleted medical records instead of summarizing them ā A guy who showed up late, ignored emails, and still thought he could āmake his own hoursā Some of these are funny. Some are shocking. And some are straight-up alarming. These arenāt just wild stories ā theyāre reminders of why hiring decisions matter more than you think. šø Think youāve heard worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: ā¢ Sometimes red flags arenāt subtle ā theyāre screaming at you. ā¢ Skills donāt matter if behavior is unpredictable or unsafe. ā¢ Hiring under pressure almost always backfires. ā¢ Leadership decisions can make or break outcomes. ā¢ Not every ābad hireā is harmless ā some are serious risks. āø» Connect with Us: š Website: TheBadHire.comļæ¼ š§ Email: team@thebadhire.com š± Instagram: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š Facebook: facebook.com/thebadhirepodļæ¼ šµ TikTok: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š¼ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thebadhireļæ¼ ā Sponsored by BChex: Need better background checks? BChex makes hiring safer, faster, and simpler. From visitor management to employee monitoringāBChex has you covered. www.bchex.io ā šļø Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.comļæ¼ | |||
| He Said He Was Kidnapped to Avoid Getting Fired | EP 8 | 19 Nov 2025 | 00:26:53 | |
A guy gets caught driving on a suspended licenseā¦ and uses theĀ company card to pay for bail. A sandwich shop employeeĀ mixes bleach and ammoniaĀ ā twice. A delivery driver chugsĀ eight beers on break, gets stuck in a storm drain, and somehow keeps his jobā¦ for another hour. | |||
| He Paid Bail With the Company Card | EP 7 | 12 Nov 2025 | 00:21:07 | |
A new hire gets fired on the spotā¦ and just shows up again the next day like nothing happened. A manager takes his team to a strip club to āboost morale.ā One guy pedals 18 miles to the hospital with his severed thumb in his pocket. And another? He paid his bail bond using the company credit card.
ā A manager who āforgotā the sexual harassment trainingā¦ immediately ā The VP who tried to avoid being fired by disappearing to the bathroom ā A poker-playing analyst who juggled three jobs (and lost them all) ā¢ Just because someone brags about āmultitaskingā doesnāt mean itās legal. ā¢ If your VP disappears before the termination meetingā¦ they know. ā¢ Strip clubs are not an appropriate team bonding activity. Ever. ā¢ A polite delivery driver can still crash cars, flee, and get arrested mid-shift. | |||
| He Jumped Out a 5th Floor Windowā¦ Then Quit | EP 6 | 05 Nov 2025 | 00:26:16 | |
A guy who brought ninja weapons to work. A military vet who leapt from a 5th floor window to win an argument. A lactose-intolerant candidate who broke into a federal building after too many cheese sticks. Ohāand an interviewee who proudly said her coworker with cancer āgot what she deserved.ā ā The job candidate who tanked the offer by yelling at HR ā A Jeopardy champ whose real rĆ©sumĆ© hid a dark secret ā A true story of how skipping a background check led to a massive school scandal
ā¢ Zoom backgrounds matter more than you think. ā¢ Even charming hires can carry dangerous secrets. ā¢ There are no awards for prevention ā but HR heroes deserve them. ā¢ Skipping background checks isnāt cutting corners ā itās gambling. | |||
| She Robbed a Bank on Her Lunch Break | EP 5 | 29 Oct 2025 | 00:39:00 | |
A librarian who did absolutely nothing for 90 days. A bank robber who forgot to remove her work ID before committing the crime. A coder who lied about knowing codeā¦ then refused to let women review it.
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| Burned on the Grill: The Hire That Almost Didnāt Survive | 22 Oct 2025 | 00:30:12 | |
Did you know some hires donāt even make it to lunch on their first day? One threatened a coworker with a box cutter on a smoke break. Another proudly claimed the āEmployee of the Monthā parking spot, only to end up in a fistfight. And then there was Tom, the retail worker who built a secret ācubby caveā with stolen merchandise and was caught napping instead of stocking shelves. In this episode of The Bad Hire, Ken, Emma, Nathan, and Morgan unpack some of the wildest, weirdest, and downright unbelievable hiring fails yet. Youāll hear about a librarian who spent 90 days doing absolutely nothing, a security guard who quit because he was afraid of the dark, and a bank robber who signed his real name before pulling the job. And just when you think it couldnāt get worse, we meet a line cook whose collapse on the grill led to one of the most surprising redemption stories ever shared on the podcast. These stories will make you laugh, cringe, and wonder how some people even made it past the interview. More than anything, theyāre proof that background checks, culture fit, and gut instinct can save you from your next bad hire. And donāt forget: submitting your own bad hire story could win you $10,000 in The Bad Hire contest. Key Takeaways
In This Episode
Notable Quotes
Our Host Ken Monroe is the founder of The Bad Hire, a show built from the trenches of business leadership and team building. After making a disastrous hire that cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars, Ken shifted his focus to helping businesses avoid similar mistakes. Today, he runs companies that have screened over 40 million candidates, helping organizations make smarter, safer hiring decisions. Resources and Links
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| The New Hire That Catcalled A Coworker On His First Day | 08 Oct 2025 | 00:25:21 | |
What do you do when a new hire orders room service for a week, then vanishes back to their old job? Or when a candidate casually admits to making date-rape drugs āas a hobbyā during an interview? In this episode of The Bad Hire, Ken Monroe, Emma, and Nathan return with another round of jaw-dropping stories that show just how unpredictable hiring can get. From bizarre excuses like a āsquirrel attack,ā to a head of IT who got fired before finishing his first morning, to a dental office manager whose past on escort sites came to light within days, these tales prove that bad hires donāt just waste money, they become office legends. Some stories will make you laugh, others will make you cringe, but all of them highlight why cultural fit, background checks, and gut instincts matter more than ever. And remember: sharing your own story could win you $10,000 in The Bad Hire contest. Key Takeaways
In This Episode
Notable Quotes
Our Host Ken Monroe is the founder of The Bad Hire, a show built from the trenches of business leadership and team building. After making a disastrous hire that cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars, Ken shifted his focus to helping businesses avoid similar mistakes. Today, he runs companies that have screened over 40 million candidates, helping organizations make smarter, safer hiring decisions.
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| Bad Hire Stories You Wonāt Believe (But They Really Happened) | 24 Sep 2025 | 00:26:13 | |
What happens when the new hire who seemed perfect on paper turns out to be a total disaster? In this episode of The Bad Hire, Ken Monroe sits down with Emma and Morgan to unpack some of the most unbelievable workplace stories you will ever hear. From imposters who show up pretending to be the candidate who interviewed, to a āsix-hour hireā who derailed an entire office on his very first day, these stories show just how unpredictable hiring can be. The team reads through wild submissions from Reddit and personal experiences, including a creepy IT guy who crossed every line, a remote worker who thought shirtless Zoom calls were acceptable, and an arrogant āsecret CEOā who tried to run projects nobody asked for. Some of these tales are funny, others are unsettling, but all of them remind us that one bad hire can ripple through an entire workplace. If youāve ever made a hire you regretted, youāll laugh, cringe, and nod along with this episodeāand maybe even feel inspired to share your own story for a shot at $10,000. Key Takeaways
In This Episode
Notable Quotes
Our Host Ken Monroe is the founder of The Bad Hire, a show built from the trenches of business leadership and team building. After making a disastrous hire that cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars, Ken shifted his focus to helping businesses avoid similar mistakes. Today, he runs companies that have screened over 40 million candidates, helping organizations make smarter, safer hiring decisions.
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| The Bad Hire Begins: Introducing the Podcast + $10,000 Contest | 27 Aug 2025 | 00:04:34 | |
Behind every bad hire, thereās a story worth telling (and a lesson worth learning). In this very first episode of The Bad Hire, host Ken Monroe introduces the show, explains why bad hiring stories are more common than you think, and reveals how you can be part of the show plus, how your story could win you $10,000. From hilarious interview fails to tragic workplace disasters, Ken shares why these stories matter, how recruiters and hiring leaders bond over them, and what we can all learn from hiring gone wrong. Whether youāre an HR leader, recruiter, or just someone whoās witnessed a hiring horror show, this episode sets the stage for a season packed with insights, cautionary tales, and practical takeaways. Key Takeaways
In This Episode
Notable Quotes
Our Host Ken Monroe is the founder of The Bad Hire, a show built from the trenches of business leadership and team building. After making a disastrous hire that cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars, Ken shifted his focus to helping businesses avoid similar mistakes. Today, he runs companies that have screened over 40 million candidates, helping organizations make smarter, safer hiring decisions.
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| The Bad Hire - Trailer | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:00:59 | |
The Bad Hire is a bold, human-first podcast about hires gone wrong. Hosted by Ken Monroe, CEO of Bchex, each episode unpacks the funniest, strangest, and most shocking bad hire stories from offices, job sites, and teams everywhere. From outrageous rĆ©sumĆ© lies to first-day meltdowns, these tales will make you laugh, cringe, and say, āthereās no way thatās true.ā Not just for HR or recruiters, itās for anyone whoās worked withĀ thatĀ coworker or made a hire theyāll never forget, while revealing the lessons in the chaos. | |||
| This Is Why You Donāt Lie in Interviews | 25 Mar 2026 | 00:20:46 | |
What happens when a candidate lies in an interviewā¦ fails the background checkā¦ and then accidentally leaves a 10-minute voicemail screaming at her dad? In Episode 25 of The Bad Hire, Ken is joined by Emma and Corey to react to more outrageous hiring stories ā from accidental email disasters to interviews that shouldāve never happened in the first place. This episode is full of moments where one small mistake turns into a massive problem. Youāll hear: ā A candidate who forgot to hang upā¦ exposing everything on voicemail ā A call center applicant afraid of phones, computers, and learning ā A hiring mistake that accidentally accepted every applicant named Kevin ā A redemption story that proves the right company can change someoneās life ā A training mishap that triggered fire trucks at 3AM ā Why honesty (or lack of it) can make or break your chances These stories arenāt just funny ā they reveal how quickly things can go wrong when details are overlooked or integrity is missing. šø Got a story that tops this? Submit it at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: ā¢ Lying in an interview will almost always catch up to you. ā¢ Small mistakes (like not hanging up) can have big consequences. ā¢ Hiring is as much about character as it is about qualifications. ā¢ Systems and double-checking matter more than you think. ā¢ Great companies donāt just hire ā they can transform lives. āø» Connect with Us: š Website: TheBadHire.comļæ¼ š§ Email: team@thebadhire.com š± Instagram: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š Facebook: facebook.com/thebadhirepodļæ¼ šµ TikTok: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š¼ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thebadhireļæ¼ ā Sponsored by BChex: Need better background checks? BChex makes hiring safer, faster, and simpler. From visitor management to employee monitoringāBChex has you covered. www.bchex.io ā šļø Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.comļæ¼ | |||
| The Most Ridiculous Way Anyone Has Ever Quit a Job | 25 Mar 2026 | 00:28:41 | |
What do you do when two employees are days away from full-time offersā¦ and instead of waiting for their background checks they steal company mascot costumes, hop on a golf cart, flip off every security camera, and disappear forever? In Episode 23 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Nathan, and Emma react to some of the strangest listener-submitted hiring disasters yet ā from drug test cheating schemes to candidates who vanish without a trace. This episode covers everything from bizarre workplace behavior to deeper lessons about hiring judgment, accountability, and the surprising ways candidates can sabotage their own careers. Youāll hear: ā Two contractors who torched their careers in mascot costumes ā Employees trying to microwave pee at a gas station to cheat drug tests ā A coding bootcamp grad demanding a $140K salary with zero experience ā A perfect candidate who disappearedā¦ and resurfaced months later launching a startup ā A salon employee who tanked team morale and had to be fired ā An engineer who claimed he built āall of itā ā but never wrote a single line of code These arenāt just ridiculous stories ā theyāre reminders that hiring decisions shape culture, risk, and the success of your entire team. šø Think youāve seen worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: ā¢ Bad decisions can erase great opportunities overnight. ā¢ Confidence without competence eventually gets exposed. ā¢ Hiring mistakes rarely stay isolated ā they affect the whole team. ā¢ Ghosting happens on both sides of the hiring process. ā¢ A great rĆ©sumĆ© doesnāt always equal real experience. āø» Connect with Us: š Website: TheBadHire.comļæ¼ š§ Email: team@thebadhire.com š± Instagram: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š Facebook: facebook.com/thebadhirepodļæ¼ šµ TikTok: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š¼ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thebadhireļæ¼ ā Sponsored by BChex: Need better background checks? BChex makes hiring safer, faster, and simpler. From visitor management to employee monitoringāBChex has you covered. www.bchex.io ā šļø Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.comļæ¼ | |||
| āI Donāt Get Madā¦ I Get Evenā ā Worst Interview Answer Ever | 18 Mar 2026 | 00:17:35 | |
What do you do when a candidate looks you dead in the eye during an interview and says, āI donāt get madā¦ I get evenā? In Episode 24 of The Bad Hire, Ken is joined by Morgan and Corey to break down more unbelievable hiring stories ā from candidates who sabotage their own interviews to employees who shouldnāt have made it past day one. This episode dives into the moments where everything seems perfectā¦ until one answer, one action, or one decision completely derails it. Youāll hear: ā A candidate who proudly admitted to sabotaging a coworker ā An applicant who flipped off their interviewerā¦ and still got the job ā A āhostile work environmentā that was really justā¦ using a computer ā A new hire from Netflix who didnāt show up to work (and asked for remoteā¦ pre-COVID) ā Why big-name rĆ©sumĆ©s can trick hiring teams ā The surprising number of people afraid to share their hiring horror stories publicly These stories arenāt just entertaining ā theyāre reminders of how quickly red flags can surface and how important it is to trust them. šø Think youāve seen worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: ā¢ One answer can completely change an interview outcome. ā¢ Red flags often show up when candidates get comfortable. ā¢ Big-name companies on a rĆ©sumĆ© donāt guarantee performance. ā¢ Hiring mistakes cost time, energy, and team morale. ā¢ Trust your instincts ā theyāre usually right. āø» Connect with Us: š Website: TheBadHire.comļæ¼ š§ Email: team@thebadhire.com š± Instagram: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š Facebook: facebook.com/thebadhirepodļæ¼ šµ TikTok: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š¼ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thebadhireļæ¼ ā Sponsored by BChex: Need better background checks? BChex makes hiring safer, faster, and simpler. From visitor management to employee monitoringāBChex has you covered. www.bchex.io ā šļø Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.comļæ¼ | |||
| 7 DUIsā¦ and He Still Wanted the Job | 05 Mar 2026 | 00:37:43 | |
Seven DUIs. Cocaine use. And somehowā¦ still applying for the job. In Episode 22 of The Bad Hire, Ken Monroe is joined by Nathan and special guest William Capps, an HR Manager from Charlotte, North Carolina, to break down some of the wildest hiring stories yet. From shocking background checks to employees who disappear after a week, this episode dives deep into the reality of hiring ā where red flags are often hiding in plain sight. But itās not all horror stories. The conversation also explores redemption arcs, second chances, and the tough decisions HR leaders have to make when someone just isnāt the right fit. Youāll hear stories about: ā¢ A candidate with seven DUIs on his record ā¢ Drug use showing up during the hiring process ā¢ Employees who ghost the job after less than a week ā¢ Background checks that reveal far more than expected ā¢ Why honesty during hiring matters more than ever ā¢ The lessons HR professionals learn the hard way These stories arenāt just outrageous ā theyāre cautionary tales for anyone responsible for hiring. š° Think youāve got a crazier story? Submit it at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. | |||
| He No-Showedā¦ Then Called to Reapply 15 Minutes After Being Fired | 25 Feb 2026 | 00:32:03 | |
He missed his first day of work. Then missed the next. Got terminated for attendance. And called back 15 minutes later asking if they were hiring. In Episode 20 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Emma, and Morgan react to an entire episode of listener-submitted chaos ā and these stories absolutely deliver. From a forklift driver with sudden āamnesiaā to a vertigo excuse that unraveled at trivia night, to offshore hiring gone sideways and a $150K ābenchwarmerā during COVID, this episode proves reality is stranger than fiction. Youāll hear: ā The forklift driver who couldnāt find workā¦ three days after orientation ā The employee who claimed vertigo but was spotted out at trivia night ā A group Zoom interview with ten candidates sharing one screen ā Offshore supervision that turned into a net negative ā A $150K hire who wasnāt given a single task for two years ā The boldest āare you hiring?ā phone call ever recorded These arenāt just bad hires ā theyāre lessons in red flags, process failures, and the cost of cutting corners. šø Think youāve got worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: ā¢ Early red flags rarely improve with time. ā¢ Hiring shortcuts create long-term headaches. ā¢ Remote work without accountability can spiral fast. ā¢ Treat every candidate with equal standards ā no matter where theyāre located. ā¢ Some bad hires fire themselves. āø» Connect with Us: š Website: TheBadHire.comļæ¼ š§ Email: team@thebadhire.com š± Instagram: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š Facebook: facebook.com/thebadhirepodļæ¼ šµ TikTok: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š¼ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thebadhireļæ¼ ā Sponsored by BChex: Need better background checks? BChex makes hiring safer, faster, and simpler. From visitor management to employee monitoringāBChex has you covered. www.bchex.io ā šļø Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.comļæ¼ | |||
| She Faked Her Brotherās Death for PTO | 18 Feb 2026 | 00:27:41 | |
What do you do when a brand-new hire claims her brother diedā¦ gets paid bereavement leaveā¦ and then you find out heās very much alive? | |||
| He Took the Company Card on a $15,000 Vacation | 11 Feb 2026 | 00:53:27 | |
Sometimes a ābad hireā is just a bad apple. In Episode 19 of The Bad Hire, Ken and Nathan are joined by special guest Steve Stewart, CEO and co-founder of SongHub, to talk through some of the wildest (and most expensive) hiring disasters heās seen in both startups and the music industry. From a tour manager who went rogue with a company credit card, to a fake coder who couldnāt code, to a $360K CTO who secretly took a second jobāthis episode is packed with jaw-dropping stories and hard-won hiring wisdom. Whether youāre building your first team or managing a high-growth startup, this oneās a crash course in hiring red flags, corporate chaos, and the high cost of trusting the wrong person. Youāll hear: ā The $15,000 Caribbean getaway that ended in a pink slip ā How to spot a resume faker before itās too late ā What happens when a CTO āquiet quitsāā¦ for a different company ā Why founders need to stop ignoring HR structure ā How Steveās hiring approach changed after losing big šø Think youāve heard worse? Submit your bad hire story at TheBadHire.comļæ¼ for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: ā¢ Not all risks pay offāespecially with hires. ā¢ Trust is earned, not assumed. ā¢ Your teamās integrity is more valuable than their rĆ©sumĆ©. ā¢ Systems donāt stop fraud, but they expose it faster. ā¢ When someone shows you who they areābelieve them. āø» Connect with Us: š Website: TheBadHire.comļæ¼ š§ Email: team@thebadhire.com š± Instagram: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š Facebook: facebook.com/thebadhirepodļæ¼ šµ TikTok: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š¼ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thebadhireļæ¼ ā Sponsored by BChex: Need better background checks? BChex makes hiring safer, faster, and simpler. From visitor management to employee monitoringāBChex has you covered. www.bchex.io ā šļø Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.comļæ¼ | |||
| He Got ARRESTED Before His First Dayā¦ Then Still Asked for the Job | 21 Apr 2026 | 00:21:30 | |
What do you do when your brand-new hire texts youā¦ asking to push their start date backā¦ because they got arrested? In Episode 29 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Morgan, and Emma are back reacting to some of the most chaotic hiring stories yet ā including a guy who spent his first week of work in jail, an employee stealing during onboarding, and someone literally hiding under their desk to vape. This episode is pure chaos from start to finish. Youāll hear: ā A new hire who got arrested before Day Oneā¦ and still came back ā Someone stealing a wallet during onboarding paperwork ā An employee hiding under their desk just to vape ā A candidate who lied about a degreeā¦ and asked for āflexibilityā ā And a guy fired on Day One for thinking he knew more than the entire company These stories are wild ā but they reveal deeper truths about hiring, character, and the cost of skipping due diligence. šø Think youāve heard worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: ā¢ Skipping background checks can backfire instantly ā¢ Character issues show up fast ā sometimes on Day One ā¢ Confidence without humility is a major red flag ā¢ Bad hires donāt just fail ā they disrupt everything ā¢ Sometimes the craziest stories start before the job even begins āø» Connect with Us: š Website: TheBadHire.comļæ¼ š§ Email: team@thebadhire.com š± Instagram: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š Facebook: facebook.com/thebadhirepodļæ¼ šµ TikTok: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š¼ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thebadhireļæ¼ ā Sponsored by BChex: Need better background checks? BChex makes hiring safer, faster, and simpler. From visitor management to employee monitoringāBChex has you covered. www.bchex.io ā šļø Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.comļæ¼ | |||
| One Tweet Ended Her Career Overnight | 06 May 2026 | 00:37:49 | |
What happens when a single tweet destroys your career before your flight even lands? | |||
| She STOLE Half the Storeā¦ Then Fell Asleep on the Job | 29 Apr 2026 | 00:23:23 | |
What do you do when your brand-new hire steals inventoryā¦ and then falls asleep an hour into their shift? | |||
| He Got Fired After Delivering ONE Pizza | 13 May 2026 | 00:28:55 | |
A pizza delivery driver lasted exactly one delivery before getting fired. | |||
| The Employee Who Disappeared Without a Trace | 03 Jun 2026 | 00:24:25 | |
A receptionist starts calling clients āSparkles Chompers.ā A salesman disappears without a trace. And a remote engineer gets caught using a fake video feed during Zoom meetings. In Episode 35 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Nathan, and Morgan react to some of the most bizarre hiring stories yet ā including workplace boundary disasters, employees who completely disappear, and remote work scams that sound too ridiculous to be real. This episode proves that sometimes the craziest stories arenāt about bad performance ā theyāre about behavior nobody could have predicted. Youāll hear: ā A receptionist whose over-the-top friendliness got her fired ā The employee who disappeared and left his wife to discover the truth ā A remote engineer secretly outsourcing his entire job ā A six-figure employee working two full-time jobs at once ā The Zoom call that exposed a fake webcam scam Some of these stories are hilarious. Some are shocking. And some make you wonder how people thought theyād ever get away with it. šø Think youāve heard worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: ā¢ Professional boundaries matter. ā¢ Remote work requires trustābut verification matters too. ā¢ Character issues eventually reveal themselves. ā¢ Being honest late is not the same as being honest. ā¢ Sometimes the biggest red flags donāt appear until after hiring. āø» Connect with Us: š Website: TheBadHire.comļæ¼ š§ Email: team@thebadhire.com š± Instagram: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š Facebook: facebook.com/thebadhirepodļæ¼ šµ TikTok: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š¼ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thebadhireļæ¼ ā Sponsored by BChex: Need better background checks? BChex makes hiring safer, faster, and simpler. From visitor management to employee monitoringāBChex has you covered. www.bchex.io ā šļø Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.comļæ¼ | |||
| The Most Unqualified Hire Weāve Ever Seen | 27 May 2026 | 00:22:37 | |
A new employee accuses her manager of poisoning her with heroin. In Episode 34 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Morgan, and Corey react to some absolutely unhinged hiring stories ā from fake medical excuses and bizarre paranoia to fake references and employees who self-destruct within hours. This episode is chaos from start to finish. Youāll hear: Some of these stories are hilarious. šø Think youāve heard worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: | |||
| She Lied About EVERY Degree on Her RƩsumƩ | 20 May 2026 | 00:20:04 | |
A bank manager physically grabs an employee by the arm. A new hire brags at lunch that his rĆ©sumĆ© is completely fake. And an MIT admissions dean spends 28 YEARS building a career on degrees she never earned. In Episode 33 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Emma, and Kyrie react to some of the wildest stories yet ā from workplace power trips and rĆ©sumĆ© fraud to theft, manipulation, and employees completely exposing themselves within hours of being hired. This episode proves one thing: People eventually tell on themselves. Youāll hear: ā A toxic bank manager obsessed with female customers ā A clerk arrested for stealing customer payment info ā A finance employee overheard admitting his rĆ©sumĆ© was fake ā A real-life MIT admissions scandal involving fake degrees ā Stories about integrity, background checks, and hiring instincts gone wrong Some stories are funny. Some are uncomfortable. And some are genuinely unbelievable. šø Think youāve heard worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: ā¢ Toxic leadership destroys teams quickly. ā¢ RĆ©sumĆ© lies almost always surface eventually. ā¢ Small integrity issues become massive risks over time. ā¢ Background checks matter more than ever. ā¢ Character problems reveal themselves early. āø» Connect with Us: š Website: TheBadHire.comļæ¼ š§ Email: team@thebadhire.com š± Instagram: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š Facebook: facebook.com/thebadhirepodļæ¼ šµ TikTok: @thebadhirepodļæ¼ š¼ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thebadhireļæ¼ ā Sponsored by BChex: Need better background checks? BChex makes hiring safer, faster, and simpler. From visitor management to employee monitoringāBChex has you covered. www.bchex.io ā šļø Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.comļæ¼ | |||
| He Took a Phone Call During His Job Interview | 10 Jun 2026 | 00:35:44 | |
What do you do when a candidate shows up nearly an hour late to an interviewā¦ then answers personal phone calls in the middle of it? In Episode 36 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Nathan, and Emma react to a fresh batch of listener-submitted hiring disasters, including interview train wrecks, fake remote workers, workplace meltdowns, and employees who spent more effort avoiding work than actually doing it. Ā From a supervisor candidate who believed the rules didnāt apply to him, to a software engineer who wasnāt even the same person that interviewed for the job, this episode is packed with stories that will leave you shaking your head. Youāll hear: These stories are funny, unbelievable, and packed with lessons for anyone responsible for hiring. šø Think youāve heard worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: ā¢ Interviews reveal far more than rĆ©sumĆ©s ever will. | |||