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).

Traditional health insurance is broken — but what’s the alternative?

In this episode of Talk HR, hosts Harrison Newman and Sam DiMercurio sit down with Peter Doran, SVP at Pareto Health, to explore how group captives and self-funding models are reshaping the future of employer healthcare. Peter breaks down why the standard fully insured model no longer works, how data transparency empowers smarter decision-making, and why more companies are shifting to self-funding to save costs and improve employee experience.

Plus, the team chats with Claudia O’Leary from Beyond Med, who shares how employers can expand their benefits offerings — including access to services like fertility treatments, mental health counseling, and even massages — without increasing costs.

Key Moments

00:41: Introducing Beyond Med: Claudia explains how supplemental health benefits can make a big impact for both employees and employers.

04:21: Welcoming Peter Duran, SVP at Pareto Health.

05:32: Why the traditional insurance model no longer works — and how volatility, rising costs, and lack of data transparency have forced change.

07:07: Why employers are turning to group captives as a smarter, more sustainable alternative.

09:20: Breaking down group captives and self-funding: what they are, how they work, and who’s a good fit.

13:50: Which employers benefit most from captives — and why diversity in industries makes the model stronger.

17:42: Simplifying the self-insurance model: what it means for HR teams and the key differences from fully insured plans.

20:04: The growing cost of pharmacy benefits and how captives give employers back control.

22:58: How data-driven plans help companies manage claims and improve the employee healthcare experience.

26:23: Real-world success stories: how Pareto members are lowering costs and even giving employees a “premium holiday.”

29:02: Peter’s advice for young professionals: find your strengths, align your work to them, and do what you love.

31:07: Closing thoughts: Rethinking the “sick care” system and building a healthier, more sustainable future for employees.

After a summer break, Talk HR is back — and this episode is worth the wait. Harrison and Sam are joined by Steve Cadigan, LinkedIn’s first Chief HR Officer, author of Workquake, and one of the world’s most respected voices on the future of work. Steve helped scale LinkedIn from 400 to 4,000 employees in just three and a half years, building a culture so distinctive it’s still studied at Stanford today.

In this conversation, Steve shares how culture can become a company’s ultimate competitive advantage, why traditional views of career and loyalty are outdated, and why turnover—often seen as a liability—can actually be a strategic strength.

In this episode:

2:06: Introducing Steve Cadigan

3:07: Steve’s Accidental Path into HR

6:22: Scaling LinkedIn’s Culture

10:50: Redefining Culture Beyond “Pillars”

14:04: Culture in Today’s AI-Driven Workplace

22:17: A New HR Mindset

30:13: Closing Thoughts

As HR continues to evolve into a strategic force inside organizations, it's time to hear from a key partner: the CFO. In this mid-year finale episode of Talk HR, Harrison and Sam are joined by Maliek Branch, CFO of Greenwich House, to explore the intersection of finance and human resources in today's workplace. Maliek shares how her background in city government shaped her leadership style, what CFOs really think of HR-led initiatives, and why it’s time for finance and HR to stop talking past each other and start working together.

Key Moments:

• 00:06: Opening Remarks + Summer Plans
• 03:28 – Meet Maliek Branch, CFO of Greenwich House
• 04:31 – Why HR Reports to Finance at Greenwich House
• 06:43 – Finance vs. People: Finding Balance
• 08:46 – Advice for HR Professionals Building Bridges with Finance
• 10:03 – Measuring ROI on HR-Led Programs
• 14:19 – Inclusive Leadership & Pacing with Culture
• 17:01 – The Future of HR: Keeping the “HR” in “People & Culture”
• 18:12 – Advice for CFOs Working with HR
• 22:07 – About Greenwich House & How to Support

On this milestone 10th episode of Talk HR, co-hosts Harrison Newman and Sam D’Arcurio reflect on Mental Health Awareness Month, the personal routines that support their own well-being, and the evolving definition of holistic employee wellness. Then, Sam welcomes Einat Steklov, co-founder and CEO of Kashable, for a candid and timely conversation about financial wellness as a mental health strategy — and why access to low-cost credit can be transformative for employees.

Einat breaks down how Kashable partners with employers to offer fair, reliable, and data-informed credit options that reduce stress, increase productivity, and build long-term financial resilience.

Key Moments:

(01:00) Sam and Harrison discuss Mental Health Awareness Month

(03:00) How employers can support mental health beyond therapy

(05:00) The link between physical health, financial stress, and mental wellness

(09:00) Meet the guest: Einat Steklov, CEO and co-founder of Kashable

(11:00) What the credit system gets wrong — and how Kashable helps fix it

(23:00) Emergency expenses, debt cycles, and why Kashable is more than a stopgap

(27:30) Financial literacy: Why education matters — but liquidity comes first

(34:30) Final thoughts

In this episode, Harrison and Sam sit down with Peter Phelan — HR executive turned culture consultant and executive recruiter — to explore how companies can create thriving, people-centric workplaces. From resume tips and recruiting trends to workplace culture and DEI, Peter shares the strategies he’s seen work during his years as a Chief People Officer and now as the go-to "Culture Doctor" for startups and scaling companies.

Key Moments:

• Intro (0:00)
• Introducing Peter (4:01)
• What Makes a Candidate Stand Out Today (5:04)
• How to Attract a Multigenerational Workforce (8:24)
• Advice for HR Professionals Considering a Career Change (15:55)
• Reframing DEI Roles in the Job Market (20:16)
• Comedy and HR: The Surprising Connection (25:35)