The H.I.T. Podcast

Thinking about switching your company's HR or payroll system? Before you make the move, there's some important work to do!

On this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, host Toby Kennedy welcomes PJ Higgins, a payroll and HR technology expert, to discuss the challenges of selecting, evaluating, and implementing new HR systems—and how organizations can avoid costly mistakes along the way.

Too often, companies jump into searching for new technology without first understanding what's actually broken. PJ explains why successful transitions begin with "doing the work before the work"—eval...

We're bringing back a Halloween favorite from The H.I.T. Podcast! In this special episode, we explore creative ways to celebrate Halloween in the workplace while keeping festivities fun, professional, and inclusive.

From office costume contests and team activities to seasonal treats and decorations, we share practical ideas for boosting employee morale and strengthening workplace culture. We also discuss best practices for ensuring everyone feels comfortable participating and how HR professionals can avoid potential workplace challenges during holiday celebrations.

Whether your organization goes all out for Halloween or prefers a...

Is your team performing at its full potential—or is something holding it back?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, host Toby Kennedy continues his conversation with executive coaching experts and authors **Tom Reynolds and Bryan A. Powell** about their book, "The Efficient Frontier of Teaming," and the strategies leaders can use to build stronger, more effective teams.

Tom and Bryan introduce the concept of the "teaming inefficiency gap"—the difference between where a team is performing today and what it could achieve with the right leadership, culture, and...

What separates a team that simply gets results from one that consistently performs at its best?

On this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, host Toby Kennedy welcomes executive and team coaching experts Bryan A. Powell and Tom Reynolds for a conversation about what it really takes to build and sustain high-performing teams.

While organizations often measure success through revenue, productivity, and performance metrics, Bryan and Tom explain why the less measurable elements—trust, psychological safety, authenticity, and shared accountability—are just as important.

The conversation expl...

What separates leaders who simply manage people from those who inspire them? The ability to tell a story people want to be part of.

In Part 2 of Toby Kennedy’s conversation with Jonathan Lewis, President of McKee Wallwork, they explore storytelling, identity, responsibility, and what today’s workforce is really searching for. Jonathan explains why leaders need to provide context for the work their teams are doing—not simply communicate goals and expectations. A compelling story can help people understand where they’re going, why it matters, and the role they play in getting there.

What if the biggest workforce challenge isn’t compensation, benefits, or flexibility—but the story employees are being asked to believe about work?

Toby sits down with Jonathan Lewis, President of McKee Wallwork, to discuss what their national workforce research reveals about the changing relationship between employees and their organizations.

After studying 3,000 participants across the country, Jonathan describes a workforce increasingly defined by TFS: Transactional, Futureless, and Suffering. The traditional promises surrounding work, career, loyalty, and retirement no longer resonate with everyone the way they once did.

So h...

What if your company could significantly reduce prescription drug costs without changing its pharmacy benefit manager or taking medications away from employees?

In Part 2 of The H.I.T. Podcast, host Toby Kennedy continues his conversation with Louis Gallucci, CEO of Limitless Consulting Group, about how employers can take greater control of prescription drug spending through smarter sourcing strategies.

Louis explains why self-funded employers should look beyond traditional pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and explore alternative purchasing options that can benefit both their health plans and their employees.

...

Prescription drug costs are climbing—but the medication itself may not be the biggest problem. It may be how and where you're buying it.

On this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy welcomes longtime friend Louis Gallucci, CEO of Limitless Consulting Group, for a deep dive into one of the biggest challenges facing employer-sponsored healthcare today: pharmacy costs.

With 20 years of experience across group benefits, carriers, voluntary benefits, benefits technology, and consulting, Louis explains why employers need to rethink the way they purchase prescription drugs—and start looking at h...

Employee mental and physical health aren't separate issues—and both can have a major impact on the workplace.

In Part 2 of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy continues his conversation with Andrea “Andy” Notch Mayzeles, Workforce Health Consultant at Kaiser Permanente, about the realities of employee well-being and what organizations can actually do to help.

With research showing significant levels of burnout, depression, and anxiety among today's workforce, the consequences extend far beyond individual employees. Absenteeism, healthcare utilization, retention, productivity, and even customer service can all be affected.

B...

Workplace wellness is about much more than step challenges, gym memberships, and occasional health initiatives. The everyday employee experience matters.

On this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy sits down with Andrea “Andy” Notch Mayzeles, Workforce Health Consultant at Kaiser Permanente, to discuss how organizations can build wellness strategies that actually become part of their workplace culture.

With more than a decade of experience at Kaiser Permanente, Andy shares practical ways employers can assess their current wellness efforts, get employees involved, build leadership support, and integrate health and well...

Great leadership isn't developed in a single training session—it takes insight, action, repetition, and real-world application.

On this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy sits down with Maren Perry, Founder and President of Arden Coaching, to discuss how organizations can develop stronger leaders at every level.

Since founding Arden Coaching in 2007, Maren has grown the organization into a network of more than 35 executive coaches, helping leaders, teams, and organizations strengthen their people skills, improve performance, and create meaningful organizational change.

Maren breaks leadership de...

Great leaders don't have to be great at everything—they need to know what they're great at and surround themselves with people who make them better.

In Part 2 of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy continues his conversation with Daniel Hallak, author of The Trust Circle, about leadership development, career growth, trust, and why the relationships around a leader matter more than ever.

Daniel explores how organizations can intentionally develop their people through stretch, support, and strategy—giving leaders the social architecture they need to grow and succeed.

Leadership can be incredibly rewarding—but it can also be incredibly isolating.

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, host Toby Kennedy sits down with Daniel Hallak, partner at the Sage Group and author of the upcoming book The Trust Circle, for a conversation about trust, leadership, feedback, and the often-overlooked isolation that comes with leading an organization.

Daniel shares how a 13-year exploration of leadership isolation ultimately inspired The Trust Circle—and why every leader needs a small group of trusted “relational investors” who can provide honest feedback, perspect...

"It begins with you, but it's not about you."

That may have been my favorite quote from this conversation—but when you're sitting down with a true healthcare legend like Cora Tellez, it's nearly impossible to pick just one.

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy talks with Cora, whose remarkable career has spanned nearly five decades. From leading organizations like Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield of California, Prudential, and Health Net to founding Sterling Administration and launching new ventures in healthcare innovation, Cora shares the leadership lessons th...

Looking for smarter ways to manage employee health benefits while controlling costs?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy explores emerging healthcare funding strategies, the latest 2027 HSA updates, and innovative benefit trends that employers should have on their radar.

From Medical Expense Reimbursement Programs (MERPs) and Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs) to the growing use of GLP-1 reimbursement programs, this episode breaks down practical options for businesses of all sizes.

In this episode:

Culture isn’t defined by the words on the wall—it’s shaped by the behaviors leaders model, reward, and tolerate every day. ????

In Part 2 of The H.I.T. Podcast, host Toby Kennedy continues his conversation with Scott McInnes, Founder of Inspiring Change, to explore what it really takes to build—and sustain—a strong workplace culture.

Drawing from his latest research, Scott reveals the six biggest barriers preventing organizations from creating human connection at work and explains why intentional leadership is more important than ever.

From hybri...

Every organization has a culture—but is yours intentional?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy sits down with Scott McInnes, Founder and Director of Inspiring Change, to discuss what it really takes to build a thriving workplace culture.

Scott explains why culture should never be left to chance, how leaders shape culture through their everyday behaviors, and why authentic culture change is a long-term commitment—not a quick fix.

Whether you're an HR professional, executive, or people leader, this conversation offers practical insi...

Great workplace culture doesn't happen by accident—it requires intention, accountability, and consistent leadership.

In Part 2 of Toby Kennedy's conversation with Lauren Sweeney, they dive into why company values should be more than words on a wall, how leaders can use shared values to improve communication and accountability, and why investing in culture has a measurable impact on employee engagement, retention, and business performance.

Lauren also explains why executive coaching isn't just for struggling leaders, how outside perspectives help organizations grow, and why focusing on small, consistent improvements can create transformational ch...

Not every workplace complaint requires a formal investigation—but ignoring the small ones can have big consequences.

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy sits down with Lauren Sweeney, Chief Growth & Impact Officer at Riviera Group Consulting, to discuss the "soft complaints" that HR professionals encounter every day—and how to address them before they damage culture and retention.

Topics include:

Are your employees truly getting value from their benefits — or are they forgetting about them until open enrollment rolls around?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy sits down with Cindy Washburn from TruHu to discuss why consistent, intentional communication may be the missing ingredient in maximizing employee benefits.

Too often, employees are overwhelmed with information during open enrollment and then hear little to nothing about their benefits for the rest of the year. Cindy explains how organizations can shift to a more effective, year-round communication strategy th...

Change is inevitable. The question is: how do great leaders respond to it?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy sits down with returning guest Magalie René, speaker, consultant, and expert in compassionate leadership and change management.

Together, they explore how leaders can become more adaptable, communicate more effectively, and guide their teams through uncertainty without sacrificing accountability or performance.

Topics include:

What if the skills your organization needs are already sitting inside your company?

In Part 2 of this conversation, Angela Finlay joins The H.I.T. Podcast to discuss skill stacking, talent architecture, and how organizations can better identify, develop, and leverage the talent they already have.

As job roles continue to evolve and technology reshapes the workplace, leaders must rethink how they evaluate skills, reward development, and prepare employees for the future.

In this episode, we discuss:

What if your greatest career advantage isn't your job title—but the unique combination of skills you've built throughout your life?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy sits down with Angela Blum-Finlay, senior HR executive, author, and "CHRO on demand," to discuss her book Skill Stacking and why career success is often built at the intersection of seemingly unrelated experiences.

Angela explains how professionals frequently underestimate the value they've gained from volunteer work, side projects, parenting, leadership roles, and everyday problem-solving.

What Yo...

What happens when employees stop trusting leadership?

In Part 2 of this conversation on The H.I.T. Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna returns to discuss the real-world impact of trust on culture, leadership, performance, and retention.

Drawing from his research and book Whole Leaders, Wild Trust, Dr. McKenna explains why trust is one of the most powerful—and overlooked—drivers inside organizations.

What We Cover

What does trust actually look like inside an organization — and can it be measured?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy sits down with Dr. Rob McKenna, founder of Wild Leaders and author of the USA Today bestselling book Whole Leaders, Wild Trust.

Dr. McKenna explains why trust is one of the most important—and most misunderstood—drivers of organizational success. More importantly, he shows how leaders can move beyond vague conversations about “culture” and begin measuring the specific behaviors that build trust.

What We Co...

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, we sit down with Scott Walker, former Scotland Yard detective, kidnap-for-ransom negotiator, bestselling author, and negotiation expert.

After handling more than 300 high-stakes cases around the world, Scott shares practical communication strategies that apply just as powerfully in business, leadership, sales, and personal relationships.

What We Cover:

What can a Scotland Yard hostage negotiator teach us about business, leadership, and everyday conversations?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, we sit down with Scott Walker, a former Scotland Yard detective and kidnap-for-ransom negotiator who spent nearly 20 years handling over 300 high-stakes cases around the world.

Now a bestselling author of Order Out of Chaos and a global negotiation expert, Scott shares how his experience translates directly into business and personal interactions.

What We Cover

Why negotiation is simply a “co...

In Part 2 of this conversation on The H.I.T. Podcast, Joe Van Brussel returns to go deeper on the real implications of AI in the workplace—and what leaders need to get right moving forward.

This episode moves beyond hype and into the human side of AI adoption.

We explore:

Why companies are rushing into AI—and the confusion it’s creating

The responsibility leaders have to slow down and set intentional guardrails

How over-reliance on AI can erode trust, communication, and creativity

The...

What is AI actually doing to the way we think and work?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, host Toby Kennedy sits down with Joe Van Brussel—creative director, writer, and philosopher—to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping creativity, decision-making, and professional work.

With experience at The New York Times and The Huffington Post, Joe brings a unique lens to the conversation—blending philosophy with real-world application.

We dive into:

Back at it again, with Joshua Barrows interviewing Toby Kennedy!

Here's the HOT question: What does it take to keep a great client?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Joshua Barrows shares a memorable analogy—comparing a valuable client to a “beautiful wife.”

The idea is simple: when something (or someone) is valuable, there will always be other options. In today’s marketplace, top clients are constantly being approached by brokers, vendors, and new technology solutions.

So how do you keep the...

We flipped the show completely on its head for this one…

Joshua Barrows—payroll and HRIS guru—steps in as HOST…

and I’m in the guest chair.

That’s right—roles reversed.

(Yes… there may or may not be some jiu jitsu references)

In this special “backwards day” episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, we dive into the current state of the insurance industry, how things are evolving, and what makes Montage Insurance Solutions different.

What We Cover

Welcome back to the HIT (Human Resources, Insurance, and Technology) podcast! This week, host Toby Kennedy is joined by world-renowned business consultant and author Kevin Lawrence for a deep dive into the strategies that separate stagnant companies from high-growth organizations.

With over 30 years of experience helping executive teams scale 5x to 10x, Kevin shares why the "people piece" is the ultimate fuel for any growth engine.

In this episode, we explore:

The Discernment of Growth:

Learn the critical difference between making your business "better" (optimizing...

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, host Toby Kennedy sits down with Kim Bohr, CEO of Spark Effect, to break down the latest research on organizational trust—and why it may be one of the most important (and overlooked) drivers of performance.

This conversation moves beyond theory and into practical frameworks leaders can use right now.

Key Insights on Organizational Trust

Trust as a KPI:

Trust isn’t soft—it’s measurable and directly tied to revenue, retention, and reputation.

Thr...

What does it actually take to build and lead companies that scale?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, entrepreneur, executive, and author Glenn Poulos joins the show to share lessons from nearly four decades of building, leading, and selling successful businesses.

Glenn discusses how moving away from “seat-of-the-pants” management toward a structured leadership system—specifically the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)—helped transform the way his companies operate and scale.

We dive into practical leadership strategies including:

What does it actually take to build and lead companies that scale?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, entrepreneur, executive, and author Glenn Poulos joins the show to share lessons from nearly four decades of building, leading, and selling successful businesses.

Glenn discusses how moving away from “seat-of-the-pants” management toward a structured leadership system—specifically the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)—helped transform the way his companies operate and scale.

We dive into practical leadership strategies including:

What are we actually chasing?

Likes?

Applause?

Recognition?

Or real impact?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Dr. Brandi Stankovic, Ed.D. joins us fresh off her recent TED talk to challenge the modern definition of “success” — especially the kind fueled by online praise and performative wins.

We explore:

• Why fake happiness and surface-level validation are so easy to chase

• How leaders unintentionally reward the wrong behaviors

• What organizations should really be me...

What do rules and expectations have in common? You shouldn’t set them if you’re not willing to enforce them.

Unenforced standards make bad performers worse—and they quietly drain the motivation of your best people when they see inconsistency.

In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Tommie Jo Brode for a powerful conversation about leadership, culture, team-building, and what it really means to hold the line as a leader.

We talk about:

What exactly is a TPA (Third-Party Administrator)—and why does it matter in the world of health insurance?

In this episode, Nick Buratti from Allied Benefit Systems joins me for a clear, practical conversation about how TPAs operate, what they’re responsible for, and where they fit into the broader health insurance ecosystem.

If you’re involved in employee benefits, self-funded health plans, or just want to better understand how all the moving pieces connect, this episode is a must-watch.

#TheHITPodcast #HealthInsurance #TPA #EmployeeBenefits #SelfFunded #HRLeadership #AlliedBenefitSystems #Health...

What does it really take to build a high-performing, low-drama team?

In this episode, we break down the real-world strategies behind employee management, intentional turnover, and aligning teams with mission, vision, and values—including practical lessons from the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).

We cover:

Managing People & Turnover

Intelli...

That advice we all know we need to hear—delivered in a no-nonsense, get-it-done way.

In this episode, we’re joined in studio by Chris Hallberg, aka The Business Sergeant—one of Inc. Magazine’s Top 50 Leadership and Management Experts, published author, and personally trained by Gino Wickman, creator of EOS and author of Traction.

Chris breaks down his world-renowned leadership principles that help teams:

This is a must-watch for leaders who are done with excuses...