Talk HR kicks off 2026 with a timely conversation on how HR leaders can keep up with the accelerating pace of change — especially as AI evolves month-to-month and expectations around data fluency, technology, and business acumen continue to rise. Hosts Harrison Newman and Samantha DiMercurio welcome Ben Eubanks, Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory and author of Artificial Intelligence for HR, to help HR leaders cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters this year.

Ben shares his “HR origin story,” why he shifted from traditional HR leadership into research, and how the profession can use technology to scale a high-touch, human-centered approach — without losing what makes HR indispensable.

Key Moments:

00:06: New Year kickoff and why HR leadership must evolve in 2026
00:45: AI, data fluency, and the rising expectations facing HR leaders
02:48: Ben Eubanks’ HR origin story and shift into research and technology
06:27: Why productivity alone is the wrong goal for AI in HR
07:45: “Humans are people to be served, not problems to be solved”
12:10: How AI-driven hiring risks filtering out great talent
22:16: A practical AI win: simplifying open enrollment communication
28:22: The next frontier for AI — helping managers become better leaders

In the final episode of the year, Talk HR explores the increasingly critical intersection of HR responsibility and mental health. With wellness concerns intensifying across workplaces—and HR professionals now fielding everything from anxiety to burnout to accommodation requests—this episode examines how HR can support others without sacrificing their own wellbeing.

Hosts Harrison Newman and Sam DeMario welcome Victoria Rivera, LCSW, a corporate wellness psychotherapist who specializes in working with HR professionals and employee populations. Rivera offers insight into why mental health leave has surged 300%, where HR’s role begins and ends, and why self-care is not optional for those tasked with caring for others.

As the holiday season brings heightened pressure for employees and leaders alike, this episode serves as a timely reminder to pause, boundary-set, and replenish.

Key Moments:

(00:06) Holiday intro and year-end reflection on challenges facing HR
(02:35) Personal reflections from Harrison and Sam on work-life balance and wellbeing
(04:04) Guest introduction: Victoria Rivera, psychotherapist and corporate wellness expert
(05:22) Why mental health leave is up 300% and what that signals
(07:47) Where HR responsibility begins and ends in supporting mental health
(09:52) The emotional toll HR absorbs and why self-care is critical
(12:51) Signs of burnout and nervous system overwhelm HR should recognize
(21:09) Corporate wellness gaps and supporting high-performing employees
(24:19) Four foundational self-regulation practices for leaders under stress
(29:44) Setting boundaries and advocating for support as a caregiver and employee
(32:58) Final reflection: entering the new year with empathy and resilience

Prescription drug costs aren’t just a budget line — they’re a business risk and an equity issue. In this episode, Harrison Newman and co-host Sam DiMercurio break down why pharmacy spend keeps climbing and what HR leaders can practically do about it with guest Eric Levin, Founder & CEO of Scripta Insights. They unpack PBMs, “market basket” pricing, GLP-1 access, the government’s role, and how transparency + expert navigation can deliver savings without cutting care.

Plus: a quick Fast Take with Pamela J. Brown (EVP & Head of People & Culture, Crunch Fitness; Chair, Marketing & Communications for NYC SHRM) on the future of work—why wellbeing, connection, and trust must be part of your operating system (not your perks list).

Key Moments:

00:46 – Setup: The Pharmacy Crisis: Costs, access, politics; GLP-1s, cancer/diabetes breakthroughs vs. affordability.

02:56: Fast Take: Pamela J. Brown (Crunch Fitness): Wellbeing, connection, everyday trust; leading amid AI with humanity; real examples leaders can copy.

05:33: Why RX Is in Every Meeting: The human side of “plan members” and the employer burden.

06:33: Why Prices Rise: A “capitalist problem,” info asymmetry, and profit incentives; buyers know less than sellers.

09:09: PBMs 101 & Pricing Mechanics: Market-basket pricing, formulary tiers, and where dollars hide.

11:26: Headlines & Policy Moves: Rebates, pass-through claims, group purchasing entities, admin/listing fees; GLP-1 demand; direct-to-cash (Cuban, Amazon) & direct-to-manufacturer experiments.

19:26: GLP-1s Explained: Why ads are everywhere—and why access is complicated.

21:23: The Fix: Transparency + Expertise: What actually empowers HR and members to decide better.

21:32: What Scripta Insights Does: “Hotels.com for drugs”—optimize the contract you’re in, no member disruption.

27:46: HDHPs & Member Education: Why cost visibility now matters at the counter.

28:46: Playbook for HR (OE & 2026): Get your data (it’s the law), add independent analytics, deploy pharmacy navigation (avg. 4.7x ROI across book).