Talk HR: A NYC SHRM Podcast

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 Moments00:41: 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 Cadigan3:07: Steve’s Accidental Path into HR6:22: Scaling LinkedIn’s Culture10:50: Redefining Culture Beyond “Pillars”14:04: Culture in Today’s AI-Driven Workplace22:17: A New HR Mindset30:13: 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 Plans03:28 – Meet Maliek Branch, CFO of Greenwich House04:31 – Why HR Reports to Finance at Greenwich House06:43 – Finance vs. People: Finding Balance08:46 – Advice for HR Professionals Building Bridges with Finance10:03 – Measuring ROI on HR-Led Programs14:19 – Inclusive Leadership & Pacing with Culture17:01 – The Future of HR: Keeping the “HR” in “People & Culture”18:12 – Advice for CFOs Working with HR22:07 – 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)

On this episode, Harrison and Sam dive into two major topics: supporting working parents in the workforce and navigating the global HR landscape. They discuss some of the challenges working parents face and how HR can better support them. They also provide practical strategies to help you find a better work-life balance. Later in the episode, Harrison interviews Ryan Freeman, Head of Partnerships at Deel, to explore the benefits and challenges of hiring globally, HR compliance for international teams, and how technology is changing the shape of the global workforce.Key Moments:1:15 - Supporting Working Mothers in the Workforce4:58 - Practical HR Tips for Supporting Working Parents6:59 - Global HR & Remote Hiring with Ryan Freeman 8:25 - The Evolution of Global HR11:31 - Key Considerations for Global Hiring15:32 - Leveraging Technology for a Global Workforce22:50 - Balancing Cultural Differences in HR Strategy26:49 - The Future of Global Work & HR Trends

On this episode of Talk HR, hosts Harrison and Sam dive into how AI will impact the workforce moving forward. They also speak to Ryan McAllister, VP of the NYC SHRM Conference and Director of People at the LGBTQ+ Community Center about the upcoming conference. Plus, they chat with Nichol Bradford, AI & HI Executive in Residence at SHRM.The episode explores key HR topics such as the evolving landscape of remote work, the role of AI in HR, and how organizations can adapt AI responsibly while maintaining employee trust.Key Moments:00:06 - Introduction02:24 - NYC SHRM Conference Overview06:01 - AI & HR: Nicole Bradford Joins the Discussion07:21 - "AI Won’t Replace Workers, But..."10:04 - How Should Organizations Adopt AI?13:07 - AI Culture & Multi-Generational Workforces18:42 - AI, Bias, Privacy, and Compliance26:02 - Adaptability: The #1 Skill in the AI Age30:06 - Closing & Final Thoughts

Did you know that employers worldwide are facing a massive talent shortage, and rethinking how they attract and retain employees could be the game changer? On this episode, Harrison and Sam are joined by Julie Develin, Senior Partner of HCM Advisory at UKG, who breaks down 2025 HR Megatrends and how HR leaders can turn challenges into opportunities. Julie discusses everything from tackling the talent deficit to leveraging AI for smarter, people-focused strategies.Key Moments:(0:00) Intro(5:00) The 2025 HR Megatrends(15:30) Engaging and Retaining Talent(28:00) AI Insights(30:00) Closing

Did you know that companies can save over a million dollars in retention costs by addressing employee burnout? On this episode, Harrison and Sam are joined by Dr. Sharon Grossman, the Burnout Doc, who shares proven strategies that not only help individuals manage stress but also lead to significant financial benefits for organizations. Plus, they chat with David Turetsky, host of the HR Data Labs Podcast about some of the lessons he's learned on his show, and they hear from Connor Buck and Rob Luneau of Imagine 360 who break down a new way to approach health insurance. On This Episode:(0:00) Intro(6:15) Holiday Traditions(12:30) Managing Stress During the Holidays(15:45) Signs of Burnout(20:00) Employer's Role in Preventing Burnout(31:15) David Turetsky's Key Lessons from 2024(40:00) Advice for HR Teams in 2025(49:15) Understanding Reference Based Pricing(55:00) Closing Remarks and Thank You Thank you to Imagine 360, IncentFit, Brainwashed Coffee, Supporting Cast, Rocket Lawyer, Crossover Health, and Amwins Connect Employee Benefits. 

On this episode, Harrison and Sam dive into crucial conversations surrounding women’s health, workplace civility, and the upcoming election cycle. They are joined by Georgie Kovacs from Fempower Health, who discusses the often overlooked topics of perimenopause and menopause in the workplace; Emily M. Dickens, Chief of Staff, Head of Government Affairs & Corporate Secretary for SHRM, who emphasizes the importance of civility in the workplace as we head into a contentious election season; and experts from Jackson Lewis, who provide legal insights on how employers can navigate workforce management during political turbulence. On this episode:(0:10) Intro(3:11) Interview with Georgie Kovacs from Fempower Health(15:35) Wellness spotlight with IncentFit(16:37) Interview with Emily M. Dickens, Chief of Staff, Head of Government Affairs & Corporate Secretary for SHRM(41:12) Innovation spotlight with MilkMate(43:17) Interview with legal experts, Linda Carlozzi and Tania Mistretta, from Jackson Lewis (1:04:58) Thank you to our guests and sponsors  Thank you to Jackson Lewis, IncentFit, Brainwashed Coffee, Supporting Cast, Rocket Lawyer, Crossover Health, Amwins Connect Employee Benefits, and MilkMate. 

On this episode, Harrison and Sam talk about some of the lessons learned at SHRM24 with Edwidge Constant, and they touch on how AI impacts today’s workforce and how it might shape the future. Plus, Harrison and Sam discuss fostering a healthy work environment with Michael Cohen, a partner at Duane Morris. Thank you to our sponsors and friends of the pod, IncentFit, UKG, Rocket Lawyer, Supporting Cast, Crossover Health, Amwins Connect Employee Benefits, and Brainwashed Coffee.

On this episode, Harrison and Sam record live from the NYC SHRM Spring Summit, plus they dive into the importance of culture and wellness and how you can be proactive in both areas. Thank you to episode sponsors Crossover Health, Rocket Lawyer, & Aflac and the friends of the pod Brain Washed Coffee, Got Fishing, Supporting Cast & Amwins Connect Employee Benefits.  

“What you put into NYC SHRM, you get out of NYC SHRM.” - Alex Salas.On this episode, we’re talking all about leadership. We’re starting off with an interview with the President-Elect of NYC SHRM, who telsl us about SHRM and its motto of connecting, learning, and growing. Plus, we break down some leadership lessons you can learn from Apple TV’s hit show, Ted Lasso. Then, we’ll talk to some SHRM presidents of the past, and finally, we’ll have a discussion about diversity and inclusion with a couple of members from the community. And stay tuned for our final segment with our Platinum Sponsor, Supporting Cast, the go-to platform for companies that want to reach their audience with audio. Guests from Supporting Cast, Vernon Ross and Andrew Dolan, give us some background on the rise of podcasting and how they are helping their clients use podcasts effectively. Plus, advice on how to create a podcast that people want to listen to.For more information about NYC SHRM, visit https://www.nycshrm.org/

This is Talk NYC SHRM, New York City SHRM's official podcast. On this show, hosts Harrison Newman and Samantha DiMercurio take you into the HR community in New York City, offering insights, ideas, and lessons to make you a better leader inside and outside of your organization. Subscribe now!