Episodes

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 professiona...

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 tod...

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 saf...

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 ...

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 Sufferi...

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 ma...

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, Loui...

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 in...

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 wa...

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 ...

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...

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 nee...

"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 lau...

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 opti...

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 intentio...

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...

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 ...

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: What qualifies as a "soft complaint" When HR should investigate—and when they sh...

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. Ci...

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: Why adaptability is a skill that can be ...

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 dis...

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 ...

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 Why high-trust organizations outperform low-trust cultures The four trust environments: S...

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 s...