EP 21 Who Defends HR on 6 Mile with Claire Lizear?
Claire Lizear joins the podcast from 6 Mile to talk HR burnout, the trap that many HR professionals find themselves in, who HR should report to, how she screens applicants, and of course, horror stories. All this with Claire's fiery sense of humor and incredible insight. Tony shares a favorite harassment complaint. Claire explains what 8 Mile, 6 Mile, and 5 Mile are near Detroit and we find out that Steve is a recording star.
Viva La Kiss Cam: https://youtu.be/OW5WDT40-Ow
Claire Lizear, SHRM-SCP, is an experienced HR leader with a passion for creating workplaces where people feel seen, supported, and set up to succeed. Known for her thoughtful approach to employee relations and her ability to bring clarity to complex situations, she’s helped leaders and teams grow through change with empathy and accountability. When she’s not in HR mode, Claire gives her time to Pucks for Autism, a volunteer effort that combines her love of hockey with her commitment to community and inclusion.
Find out more about Claire at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clizear/
Nobody cried during the recording of the episode.
Learn more about Pucks for Autism at: https://pucksforautism.com/
A link to our incredible sponsor: https://www.megastarhr.com/
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal" Smith at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
A list of the books mentioned on the podcast can be found here: https://thehiringtreebook.com/hr-life-podcast
Steve and Tony encourage you to support The Thrive Life Project at: https://www.thrivelifeproject.org/
Viva La Kiss Cam: https://youtu.be/OW5WDT40-Ow
Claire Lizear, SHRM-SCP, is an experienced HR leader with a passion for creating workplaces where people feel seen, supported, and set up to succeed. Known for her thoughtful approach to employee relations and her ability to bring clarity to complex situations, she’s helped leaders and teams grow through change with empathy and accountability. When she’s not in HR mode, Claire gives her time to Pucks for Autism, a volunteer effort that combines her love of hockey with her commitment to community and inclusion.
Find out more about Claire at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clizear/
Nobody cried during the recording of the episode.
Learn more about Pucks for Autism at: https://pucksforautism.com/
A link to our incredible sponsor: https://www.megastarhr.com/
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal" Smith at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
A list of the books mentioned on the podcast can be found here: https://thehiringtreebook.com/hr-life-podcast
Steve and Tony encourage you to support The Thrive Life Project at: https://www.thrivelifeproject.org/
Creators and Guests
Host
Steven "Big Deal" Smith
Steve will be the first to tell you that recruiting is marketing. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance at Brigham Young University and started his career in recruiting in Feb 2005. In 2008, he took a risk during a recession to help start a new company with Ryan Kohler, called ApplicantPro, a full suite HR platform for small to mid-sized businesses. In March 2025, ApplicantPro became iSolved Talent Acquisition, now serving 177,000 clients and close to 9800 employees. Before the merger, ApplicantPro made the Inc 5000 list 12 years in a row, Top Places to work in Utah 3 years in a row, and Steve was named the Small Business Utah HR Achievement Award winner in May 2024. iSolved was also named an Indeed Platinum Partner in 2023, 2024, and 2025 and is one of only ten ATS platforms in the country to obtain that designation. SHRM-CP & PHR certified, Steve currently volunteers on the Utah SHRM State Council as the immediate past State Executive Director. His book, The Hiring Tree: Laws of Applicant Attraction, was released in early 2023, and has helped thousands of organizations across the country rethink their approach to hiring. If you need help understanding the principles and role of SEO, marketing, and AI when it comes to attracting job seekers, Steve provides a solid framework for hiring effectively.
Host
Tony "Two Weeks Notice" Benjamin
I am a unique HR leader with more than 20 years’ experience working for some of Utah’s oldest, fastest growing, and most well-known companies. My experience includes Superior Drilling Products, Air Medical Resource Group, Control4, Ovivo USA and Deseret Book. I am a regionally recognized authority on building successful cultures and am an alumni speaker at DisruptHR SLC and DisruptHR St. George. I have earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix, a Bachelor’s degree from Utah State University, and am a certified Professional of Human Resources (PHR). I'm married to a woman out of my league, have three brilliant kids I doesn’t deserve and, although I travel a lot, live in Vernal, Utah.
