Episodes

111
June 9, 2025

Ep #111: A.I. in HR? It’s Already Happening | A LIVE HIT-chat from CAHR25 with Diana Tsai

I had the chance to sit down with Diana Tsai LIVE from the floor at #CAHR25 for a fascinating conversation on how A.I. is reshaping the world of work—especially in HR. From hiring and retention to compliance, culture, and beyond, Diana brings bold insights on what’s already happening and what’s just around the corner. If you're curious—or concerned—about how A.I. is impacting your workplace, this is a must-listen. About the Show: The H.I.T. Podcast (Powered by Montage Insurance Solutions): A...
110
June 2, 2025

Ep #110: What’s Keeping HR Up at Night? | Real Answers from HR Practitioners LIVE from the floor at CAHR25

We hit the floor at #CAHR25 as the official podcast of the California HR Conference—and spent two packed days collecting interviews from HR professionals across industries. We asked everyone the same question: “What’s keeping HR up at night?” The answers? Insightful. Honest. And packed with wisdom. In this special compilation episode, we highlight the biggest challenges facing HR leaders today—along with real-world advice. Don’t miss this one—it’s the pulse of HR, straight from the people li...
109
May 26, 2025

Ep #109: CAHR25 Keynote Series Part 3 - Pharmacy Spend & Non-Medical Strategies

We were honored to deliver the closing keynote at #CAHR25, and we’ve been bringing it to you in a powerful 3-part series. In this final installment, we dive deep into the world of Pharmacy spend—covering everything from rebates and PBMs to real, actionable strategies for cost containment. Then we shift gears to explore the often-overlooked but essential ancillary benefits: ✔️ Dental ✔️ Vision ✔️ Disability ✔️ Life and more If you missed Parts 1 or 2, go back and catch up! This finale ties...
108
May 19, 2025

Ep #108: CAHR25 Keynote Series Part 2 - Self Funding Strategies That Actually Work

This is Part 2 of my keynote from the Main Stage at #CAHR25—if you missed Part 1, definitely go check that out first! In this episode, we dive into Self Funding: what it actually takes to do it well. From point solutions to stop loss nuance to controlling claims, it’s all here. If you’re in this space, you won’t want to miss this one.
107
May 13, 2025

Ep #107: CAHR25 Keynote Series Part 1 - Health Insurance Fundamentals

We’re extremely proud to share the closing keynote we delivered last week at #CAHR25, live from the main stage! This keynote was all about breaking down core health insurance concepts that impact everything you do in the benefits space—starting with practical strategies for fully insured plans. The feedback from the live audience was incredible, and now we’re bringing it to you in our signature bite-sized, digestible style. This is Part 1 of your three part series—don’t miss it! About the Sh...
106
May 6, 2025

Ep #106: We’re BACK and LIVE from CAHR 2025!

We’ve hit the floor at #CAHR2025, thanks to the incredible Rafael Rivera and the awesome team at PIHRA, and we’re podcasting LIVE from the heart of the action! If you’re here at the conference, come find us! Jump on the mic, share your HR insights, and be part of a special series featuring interviews with real HR professionals from across the industry. And don’t miss the keynote! I’m closing out Day 1 with a full hour on everything you need to know about employee benefits in 2025—trends, strat...
105
April 28, 2025

Ep #105: Launching a Successful Wellness Program | A HIT-chat with Carly Marino-Healy

Looking to take your wellness program beyond just checking a box? In the second part of our mini-series on Employer Wellness Programs, I’m joined by the amazing Carly Marino-Healy — Corporate Wellness Expert and Founder & CEO of Marino Wellness LLC. Carly brings years of experience (and a ton of wisdom!) to the table, sharing real-world tips, best practices, and major do’s and don’ts for employers looking to launch, improve, or maximize their wellness initiatives. If you're serious about buil...
104
April 21, 2025

Ep #104: Building Better Wellness Programs with Austin Ollis, Founder of Fly Bodies Inc.

We’re kicking off a 2-part series on Employer Wellness with special guest Austin Ollis—Air Force missileer, active reservist, and founder of the innovative wellness company Fly Bodies. In this episode, we dive into: How to launch or improve a workplace wellness program Realistic tips for increasing employee engagement How to measure ROI and long-term impact Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to level up your current wellness efforts, this conversation is packed with actionable a...
103
April 14, 2025

Ep #103: Fertility & Family-Building Benefits at Work | SB 729 Breakdown with Kelly Ellison

California’s SB 729 goes into effect July 1, requiring insurance coverage for infertility treatments, including IVF. But what does that really mean for employers, employees, and benefit strategies moving forward? In this episode, I’m joined by Kelly Ellison, COO & Founder of Vesta for Families, for a powerful conversation about the current and future state of fertility and family-building benefits in the workplace. We break down: What SB 729 covers (and doesn’t) How leading employers are appr...
102
April 7, 2025

Ep #102: Emotional Intelligence at Work with Jeff Kinsley, Business Director at Six Seconds

Jeff Kinsley spent over 30 years in HR at FedEx and now serves as Business Director at Six Seconds — a groundbreaking emotional intelligence (EQ) company with the bold mission of impacting one billion lives through EQ. In this episode, we dive into what emotional intelligence really means, how to integrate it into your organization, and why it matters at every level — from personal growth to executive leadership. Whether you're in HR, leading a team, or just curious how EQ can transform your w...
101
March 31, 2025

Ep #101: How Do I Handle New Hires Under the ACA?

This week’s episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating ACA compliance! We’re diving into one of the most misunderstood areas of the Affordable Care Act: new hires and the Initial Measurement Period. In just 15 high-impact minutes, we break down how to properly set up your PPACA Lookback-Stability Period safe harbor, with clear, actionable insight on what distinguishes the Initial period from the Standard. I get a ton of questions on this topic—it’s easily one of the top 2 or 3 areas where ...
March 27, 2025

100 EPISODES! Toby’s Top 5 Thoughts from The HIT Podcast Journey

We made it. 100 episodes of The HIT Podcast – where Human Resources, Insurance, and Technology collide. To celebrate this incredible milestone, Toby takes a look back and shares his Top 5 most memorable “thoughts” from the journey so far. From the funny to the foundational, these are the gems you won’t want to miss. Thank you for being part of this wild ride. Here's to the next 100! Watch, like, comment, and don’t forget to subscribe – especially if you’ve been with us from the start. About t...
99
March 17, 2025

Ep #99: A HIT-chat with Marilyn Monahan | The Affordable Care Act Turns 15!

Can you believe the Affordable Care Act is turning 15 years old this weekend?! And oh boy, it’s acting like a moody teenager. Join me as I sit down with super lawyer Marilyn Monahan, widely considered an expert on the ACA—whether you call it PPACA, Obamacare, or the Health Care Reform Bill. We’re diving into the biggest mistakes that are still tripping up employers, including some sneaky ERISA and benefits law landmines. About the Show: The H.I.T. Podcast (Powered by Montage Insurance Solutio...
98
March 10, 2025

Ep #98: Unlock a Happier Workplace with Dr. Joey Faucette!

We’re sitting down with Dr. Joey Faucette — executive coach, culture architect, and host of the Work Positive podcast! With over 1,000 published articles featured on Fox News, CNBC, WSJ Market Watch, MSNBC, and Entrepreneur.com, plus his best-selling book Work Positive in a Negative World: Team Edition, Dr. Joey has helped companies worldwide transform their workplace culture. His insights have reached 50+ countries, and he’s spoken to thousands of professionals—now, he’s bringing his wisdom to...
97
March 4, 2025

Ep #97: A HIT-chat with Kimberly Carleson | 99% of medical bills have charges you DON'T owe!

Did you know that over 99% of medical bills contain charges you DON’T actually owe? On average, that’s more than 30% savings off in-network charges! But here’s the real shocker—hospitals rarely fight back when they’re called out on these errors. The appeal rate? Less than 0.25%… and they’ve never lost an appeal! About the Show: The H.I.T. Podcast (Powered by Montage Insurance Solutions): A thought leader in the space, curating the top news and information to deliver a brief, high impact overvi...
96
Feb. 24, 2025

Ep #96: Self-Funding Beyond Medical: Have You Considered Dental & Vision?

Here’s what I love about this episode—we’re skipping the medical talk! This episode focuses exclusively on self-funding strategies for your NON-MEDICAL products—think dental and vision. Have you explored this approach? About the Show: The H.I.T. Podcast (Powered by Montage Insurance Solutions): A thought leader in the space, curating the top news and information to deliver a brief, high impact overview designed specifically for the Human Resources professional, business person, and company ex...
95
Feb. 17, 2025

Ep #95: The Definitive Guide to Determining ALE Status Under the Affordable Care Act!

This is the video—the one you need to watch—to fully understand how to determine "ALE" (Applicable Large Employer) status under the ACA. Figuring out your employer size isn’t always as straightforward as it seems. The ACA has specific rules on how to “get the count right,” and getting it wrong could result in hefty penalties. This is a concise, clear, and instructive conversation that breaks down how to calculate if you qualify as an ALE or not. Don't miss this essential guide to staying compl...
94
Feb. 10, 2025

Ep #94: Top 5 Things Employers Must Know if You've Had Employees Move Out of State!

HIT Podcast, Episode 94 – Did COVID scatter your employees across the country? The remote work wave may have left you with team members in states where you never had a presence before. In this episode, we break down the top five things every employer needs to know when managing a remote workforce across multiple states. Tune in for a quick, high-impact discussion! About the Show: The H.I.T. Podcast (Powered by Montage Insurance Solutions): A thought leader in the space, curating the top news a...
93
Feb. 3, 2025

Ep #93: A HIT-chat with Aron Hyde // Leadership & Team Success! ⚽ PT 2️⃣ of 2️⃣

When success is CRITICAL and the pressure is ON, how do you build a winning culture that gets the BEST out of your team? That’s exactly what we’re diving into in Part Two of my conversation with Aron Hyde—a professional soccer coach who has won an MLS Cup, a Gold Cup, two Concacaf Nations League titles, and helped lead the U.S. National Team to the World Cup. Whether you're leading a sports team or a business team, the principles of high performance, accountability, and culture-building apply a...
92
Jan. 27, 2025

Ep #92: A HIT-chat with Aron Hyde // Business Lessons from Championship ⚽ Coach Aron Hyde! PART ONE

We absolutely LOVE finding business lessons in sports! Sports provide a true meritocracy—an environment where only success is tolerated—which offers incredible principles we can apply to our business teams. In this fascinating episode, Toby sits down with Aron Hyde, a goalkeeper coach with an impressive resume: an MLS Cup, a Gold Cup, two Concacaf Nations League titles, and a trip to the most recent World Cup with the U.S. National Team. Former U.S. Men's National Team Goalkeeper Coach (Gold C...
91
Jan. 21, 2025

Ep #91: Life After the Fires: Resources & Support

In this episode of The HIT Podcast dives into life in the wake of the devastating fires in Southern California. We'll be sharing essential information to help those affected, including: ✔️ Insights from insurance carriers ✔️ Mental health resources ✔️ Federal assistance programs ✔️ Charity organizations and how you can help Join us for this important conversation and please share the episode if you find it helpful. Together, we can support our community through this challenging time.
Jan. 8, 2025

Way Back Wednesday: A HIT-chat with Clark Souers of Expert Effect | Building Stress Resiliency

"Even the most high intensity roles in jobs, people don't have to sacrifice thriving to be successful and have an impact on what they do."
89
Jan. 6, 2025

Ep #89: Top 5 HIT-Moments of 2024 | Kicking Off 2025 with Inspiration!

We’re thrilled to share our 5 favorite moments of 2024 in this special year-end recap! From inspiring conversations to game-changing insights, this highlight reel showcases some of the BEST discussions we’ve had over the past year. A huge THANK YOU to our incredible guests: