Episodes

  • Episode 53: AI, Market Research, and Ethical Implications

    Episode 53: AI, Market Research, and Ethical Implications
    Aug 26 2025
    Dr. Aaron Delgaty dives into the ethical implications of outsourcing and automating primary qualitative research with AI tools and agents. Come for the philosophical AI debate and stay for the Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park references. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    10 mins
  • Episode 52: Supporting Financial Wellness Through Emergency Funds

    Episode 52: Supporting Financial Wellness Through Emergency Funds
    Aug 18 2025
    If you've seen the job market numbers for July and the dramatic downward revisions made for May and June, then you know the data's finally matching up to what many are sharing and experiencing right now in the job market. It's not easy for folks navigating restructures and layoffs and many are having to dip into retirement savings to stay afloat between jobs. But adjacent to longer-term income shocks that could require 6-12 months of income replacement are unexpected expense shocks that can have huge impacts on financial wellbeing for large portions of the workforce. My guest this episode, Nick Maynard, discusses the impact of unexpected expenses and how employers can utilize available tools and programs to better support employees and protect the need for liquidity events on retirement savings. Enjoy this episode and maybe avoid peaking at your 401k balance for a bit... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    8 mins
  • Episode 51: Evolving Payroll with Data, Compliance, Automation, and Insights

    Episode 51: Evolving Payroll with Data, Compliance, Automation, and Insights
    Aug 18 2025
    I still clearly remember getting my first paycheck as a high schooler working over the summer at the local movie theater. The amount was shockingly low, there was some sort of loop hole where we were getting paid below minimum wage, but getting that handwritten check from the manager was exciting and a milestone moment for me nonetheless. Flash forward 5 years and I'm actually running payroll for the commercial real estate firm I'm working at as part of my property manager duties. It wasn't a huge group, but two dozen people began relying on me to make sure they got paid accurately and on time each month. That's when it hit me how critical it is to get payroll right and that a misstep in processing has a very real impact on people's lives. Technology has come a long way from the early 2000's Quickbooks software I was running. Payroll is evolving from a back office administrative function to a strategic pillar that enables organizational agility through data and insights. Payroll platforms are also leading the charge on building out holistic compliance suites that extend across the HR spectrum beyond just payroll. That's why I'm excited to have payroll industry expert and analyst, Pete A. Tiliakos, join me to discuss the evolution of payroll and its expanding strategic importance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    8 mins
  • Episode 50: New Tech Investments -vs- Linear ROI Equations

    Episode 50: New Tech Investments -vs- Linear ROI Equations
    Aug 18 2025
    I feel for anyone involved in sourcing and making new tech buying decisions these days. There's a lot to consider and there's much more that needs to be taken into account with bringing in new AI tools that doesn't line up cleanly with how businesses compute ROI. That's why it's great to have smart folks like Kyle Forrest and the team at Deloitte to conduct ongoing research and surface insights on this mismatch happening in the marketplace and how tech companies can take a different approach to show buyers the true ROI potential and expansive opportunities of AI-powered solutions while also addressing the elephant in the room — compliance, security, and governance of the AI. School might be out for summer, but come nerd out with me and Kyle as we dive into Deloitte's latest market research report, the adjacent rise of compliance alongside AI, and some sage advice for new college graduates entering the workforce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    9 mins
  • Episode 49: Is the Future of Work a More Fluid Workforce?

    Episode 49: Is the Future of Work a More Fluid Workforce?
    Aug 18 2025
    Most prognosticators waxing about the future of work have been humbled since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Remote work environments were going to be the universal norm for office workers. Hiring and retaining talent were the top priorities for the foreseeable future with a historically tight labor market and baby boomers leaving the workforce. Now many are speculating what the role will be for human workers with continued advancements in AI, automation, and robotics. Change has been the consistent thread over the past 5 years. When we're all feeling comfortable about the direction things are going (labor market, work policies, funding environment), some dominoes fall and a shift happens that fundamentally changes that outlook. With change and a healthy dose of chaos being the new norm, it stands to reason that the companies with organizational agility - the ability to pivot and shift the workforce - are well positioned to succeed and endure in this environment. That's why I was so excited to have Kirti Shenoy on #HRSnacks to discuss the trends and adoption curve in the contingent labor market along with the evolutions in modern payroll platforms that support the fluid workforce. So grab your 40oz Stanley and hydrate as we dive into the fluid workforce on this episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    8 mins
  • Episode 48: Compliance as a Competitive Advantage

    Episode 48: Compliance as a Competitive Advantage
    Aug 18 2025
    In the hospitality, restaurant, and retail world, employees power the guest experience. You don't have to look hard to find a trove of case studies and examples of great companies, like Costco or Hilton, that have a dedicated focus on providing a positive employee experience and high customer satisfaction and engagement. When we think of employee experience and factors that impact employee engagement, the focus is often turned to comp and benefits, manager relations, career development, and wellbeing (physical, mental, financial). But employee experience is more like Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs than a linear spectrum and the foundational layer of that pyramid is labor compliance — employee safety, rights, and protections. Businesses that approach compliance with purpose and intent to demonstrate to employees that they uphold and value their rights and protections will build trust and stronger workplace cultures. By shifting the paradigm from compliance is an annoying check-box to compliance is an important foundational layer of EX, organizations can evolve the function of labor compliance into a competitive advantage that impacts customer experience. Samantha Gallagher, the Director of Product Compliance at Harri, joins me on this episode to discuss the compliance challenges in the restaurant and hospitality industry, Harri's approach to compliance automation, and why this has created a competitive advantage for not just its customers, but for Harri as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    8 mins
  • Episode 47: Fractional HR Work and Frontline Industry Challenges

    Episode 47: Fractional HR Work and Frontline Industry Challenges
    Aug 18 2025
    To say things haven't been easy for HR professionals over the past 5 years is a colossal understatement. The pandemic, the rapid adjustment to WFH, the Great Resignation, all of the "Quiet" iterations (that I'm glad have gone away), RTO pushes, AI-fueled workforce realignments, and a broadening skills gap have led to widespread burnout and many HR pros making the move from full-time roles to fractional and consulting work. While being your own boss can seem idyllic if you're battling burnout and frustration in a full-time HR position, it may not be the best fit for everyone. My guest, Tracie Sponenberg, has made the move from a 3-decade career in HR to running her own LLC as a fractional CPO and HR consultant and shares her experience and advice for those exploring the jump. We also talk about the unique challenges facing industries that typically aren't heavily covered in the HR Tech world, distribution and manufacturing. So grab yourself a nice iced latte and enjoy this episode of #HRSnacks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    8 mins
  • Episode 46: HR Tech Buyer Considerations

    Episode 46: HR Tech Buyer Considerations
    Aug 14 2025
    The more things change, the more they remain the same. Perhaps not universally true, but this idiom certainly applies to the HR tech industry and the buyers in the market. There are some key principles and considerations that are just as relevant today in the AI era as they were when on-premise HRMS dominated the market. My guest on this episode, Steve Goldberg, has seen it all over the decades and gives a breakdown of some core considerations that stand the test of time when selecting a technology vendor. Steve also provides a little perspective on the hype cycles that've always been present in HR tech — hint, just follow the investment $$ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    8 mins