Episodes

Danone Simpson is the founder and CEO of Montage Insurance Solutions, a full-service insurance brokerage firm known for its unparalleled client service and innovative plan designs.

Welcome to Episode 88 of The HIT Podcast!

In this episode, Toby welcomes Susan, Senior Human Resources Manager at RITE AID and Vice President of the Executive Board at PIHRA. With over 25 years of experience in HR (since 1998!), Susan dives into important topics like Workplace Violence Prevention Plans, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accommodations, and more. Get ready for an insightful discussion packed with practical tips and expert knowledge for navigating today’s HR challenges!

⏪✨ As we approach the end of the year, we're rewinding to one of our most popular episodes from last year—Episode 33! For many, this time of year also means unused Flex (FSA) dollars are about to expire

Join us as we chat with Nena Hernandez, HR Manager at Industrial Threaded Products, a top supplier of fasteners and hardware

Al Lewis, known as the 'Quizmeister-In-Chief,' brings his impressive resume to episode 86 of The HIT Podcast! From his time as a Jeopardy! contestant to his roles as an author, radio host, CEO, and more, Al now adds 'guest of The HIT Podcast' to his list of achievements. Tune in as he shares his innovative approach to gamifying health information for employees, empowering smarter consumers, and having plenty of fun along the way. About the Show: The H.I.T. Podcast (Powered by Montage Insurance...

On this Way Back Wednesday edition of The HIT Podcast, we spotlight Karen Boublis

This episode features Dr. Wendi Zimmer, a mindset expert and professor at Texas A&M University

Leave laws are one of the hottest

Gil Soares, founder of Empower Men, joins us to discuss the mission behind this transformative community. Empower Men is a free, online wellness platform dedicated to improving the mental health and overall well-being of professional working men. It provides a safe, anonymous space for men to connect over shared goals, industries, interests, and challenges, fostering support and growth. Best of all, it’s completely free for employers to offer. Contact them today: empowermen.co About the Show: ...

In this episode of The HIT Podcast, we’re diving into an exciting solution for your executives and leadership teams with Rachel Rutherford from ArmadaCare. Give us 15 minutes ⏰ and discover how to offer a perk that goes beyond the usual paycheck.

Bradley Jarryd, founder of Empower Men, joins us to discuss the mission behind this transformative community. Empower Men is a free, online wellness platform dedicated to improving the mental health and overall well-being of professional working men. It provides a safe, anonymous space for men to connect over shared goals, industries, interests, and challenges, fostering support and growth. Best of all, it’s completely free for employers to offer. About the Show: The H.I.T. Podcast (Powered by...

Kirk Czonstka, SVP of Strategic Alliances at Garner Health, joined us for part 2 of our conversation, where we discuss how rare it is to find a solution that saves employees money on their health care while also reducing plan spend for employers. Typically, those two goals don't align. Catch the first half of this insightful conversation with Kirk, available now. About the Show: The H.I.T. Podcast (Powered by Montage Insurance Solutions): A thought leader in the space, curating the top news an...

The health plan services offered by Excel enable employers to adopt self-funded, employer-owned health plans that provide superior benefits while appropriately managing costs. Excel Health Plans is not licensed to sell insurance and is not an insurance company. 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 pro...

We're diving into the intersection of transparency laws in healthcare and the power of AI to analyze and act on all that data. Garner is a game-changing search tool that helps employees evaluate provider performance before selecting a doctor for any medical procedure. What’s really striking is the huge price variation for common services within the same geography. For example, we take a look at the cost of a colonoscopy in New York City, which can range from as low as $300 to nearly $10,000—yes...

"AI, I think, is scary but it's good. AI is definitely here to stay. So I think from a practitioner standpoint, it's just good to dive in and learn to navigate it." ~ Nicholas Lodge on the impact of AI. 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 executive. Find ou...

Excited for this episode!

On this Way Back Wednesday of The HIT Podcast, Stacey BrooksClark shares insights from her 18+ years of experience as a strategic human resources leader, specializing in talent management, employee relations, and labor law compliance. With a master’s degree in human resources management and a project management certification, Stacey has successfully led HR functions across diverse industries, including consulting, construction, education, and automotive. Currently, as HR Director at Home Instead...

In this episode of The HIT Podcast, I’m joined by Michael Patton, President and Founder of Excel Health Plans, to explore innovative strategies for saving on healthcare costs without narrowing provider networks or reducing plan quality. Mike shares insights into how Excel Health Plans is tackling the challenge of offering robust, cost-effective plans while keeping provider options open. About the Show: The H.I.T. Podcast (Powered by Montage Insurance Solutions): A thought leader in the space, ...

"I am a play instigator. It's all about bringing out your inner-child and showing how play and work go together." ~ Rona Lewis 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 executive. Find out more here: www.hitpodcast.com

Did You Know!? If you're a plan sponsor involved with your company’s health insurance, it's your responsibility to inform employees whether their plans are considered Creditable Coverage. You probably already know about the annual notice and that Creditable Coverage means the plan meets or exceeds Medicare’s standards. But did you know that starting in 2025, Medicare will cap out-of-pocket drug expenses at $2,000, eliminating the “donut hole” gap in drug coverage? This improvement could change w...

From the Nez Perce Native American Reservation in northern Idaho to becoming a leading expert in change management, Kelsy Colwell, M.Ed., shares her invaluable insights in this powerful conversation! As we honor Indigenous Peoples' Day, I’m excited to share this fascinating discussion on the importance of aligning Awareness, Desire, and Knowledge when rolling out effective change. Kelsy breaks down these crucial steps and offers practical tips on how you can apply them to your own projects and w...

Katie's biggest takeaway from a CAHR 2024 talk was: "your job title isn't who you are. It's all of the adjectives that make up who you are. Your title has nothing to do with that. Your knowledge has nothing to do with that. People hired you for a reason." 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 professio...

Change comes in many forms—a new payroll system, a new process, or a policy rollout. We’ve all experienced the shift from the 'old way' to the 'new way,' but let’s be honest—how often does that transition go smoothly for everyone involved? Probably not as often as we’d like! Join me tomorrow for an insightful conversation with change management expert Kelsy Colwell, M.Ed., as we dive into strategies for making those transitions smoother and more successful. About the Show: The H.I.T. Podcast (...