The H.I.T. Podcast

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, Louis explains why employers need to rethink the way they purchase prescription drugs—and start looking at healthcare through the lens of procurement. Pharmacy now represents a significant portion of overall healthcare spending, and Louis shares how a surprisingly small number of medications can account for an enormous percentage of a health plan's total costs. In this episode: Why prescription drug spending has grown so dramatically How just a handful of medications can drive a huge portion of plan spending Why the sourcing channel can matter as much as the medication itself Understanding the enormous pricing differences that can exist for the same drug Why rebates and traditional PBM strategies may no longer be enough How alternatives such as direct sourcing are changing the pharmacy landscape Why HR leaders should start thinking more like procurement directors What self-funded employers need to understand about their fiduciary responsibilities Why employers need to take ownership of their claims data The questions employers should be asking their PBMs and benefits partners One of Louis' biggest messages is simple: employers are the buyers. Your PBM may administer the claims, but employers need to understand what they're purchasing, where the money is going, and whether there is a more efficient way to source the same care. And there's a personal connection to this episode, too—Toby and Louis go back nearly 20 years, from working together early in their careers to attending each other's weddings. Now they're sitting down to unpack how dramatically the benefits and pharmacy landscape has changed.

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 individual employees. Absenteeism, healthcare utilization, retention, productivity, and even customer service can all be affected. But mental health is only part of the equation. Andy explores the often-overlooked connection between musculoskeletal health and mental health, including how physical pain can contribute to depression—and how depression and inactivity can make physical pain worse. In this episode: The impact of burnout, depression, and anxiety in the workplace Why musculoskeletal health deserves more attention The connection between physical pain and mental well-being Why psychological safety helps employees speak up before problems escalate How micro-movement breaks can support physical and mental health Why simply taking a lunch break matters Why communicating benefits once isn't enough Creating a “surround sound” approach to employee wellness communication How leaders, wellness champions, HR, and safety teams can work together Why employees need to understand that resources like EAPs are confidential One of the biggest challenges isn't always a lack of resources—it's making sure employees actually know those resources exist and feel comfortable using them. Missed Part 1? Check out the first half of Toby's conversation with Andy on building workplace wellness that actually works.

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 ways employers can assess their current wellness efforts, get employees involved, build leadership support, and integrate health and well-being throughout the organization. In this episode: How benchmarking and scorecards can reveal where your wellness strategy stands Why employee wellness shouldn't live exclusively within HR How wellness committees and employee champions can drive engagement Why organizations should regularly ask employees what they actually need The powerful trickle-down effect of leaders modeling healthy behaviors The business case for wellness—from retention and healthcare costs to absenteeism and productivity How to make mental health part of the everyday employee experience Small, practical wellness rituals that managers can incorporate into their teams One of the biggest takeaways? A quarterly wellness challenge can't make up for an unhealthy day-to-day work experience. Managers and leaders play a critical role in creating an environment where employees can thrive. Andy also discusses Kaiser Permanente's Mental Fitness Toolkit, designed to help organizations incorporate simple, achievable mental wellness practices into the regular rhythm of work.

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 their people skills, improve performance, and create meaningful organizational change. Maren breaks leadership development into three distinct domains: self leadership, relational leadership, and strategic leadership—and explains why the way we develop leaders needs to change as people progress through an organization. In this episode: Self Leadership — developing self-awareness and understanding your communication style Relational Leadership — navigating difficult conversations, accountability, execution, and developing others Strategic Leadership — building the skills needed to lead at the highest levels of an organization Why leadership development should evolve as responsibilities increase Why one long training session usually isn't enough How repetition and multiple learning "touches" fight the forgetting curve Why coaching and small-group sessions help lessons stick Turning leadership concepts into action under real-world pressure Maren also shares a simple but powerful formula: INSIGHT + ACTION = RESULTS Information can create insight, but lasting leadership development happens when people take those insights back into their actual jobs, put them into practice, and continue building on them over time.

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—giving leaders the social architecture they need to grow and succeed. The conversation also dives into the idea of the "shadow job description." Beyond what's written on paper, leaders juggle countless responsibilities every day. The key is understanding where you bring unique excellence, recognizing what drains you or falls outside your strengths, and having the humility to bring the right people around you. In this episode: Why great leaders need a trusted circle around them How mentorship can accelerate employee development and productivity The role of stretch, support, and strategy in developing leaders Understanding your "shadow job description" Identifying what you're uniquely great at Building a team that complements your weaknesses Why AI and unlimited information can't replace context and nuance How trusted relationships help leaders make better decisions In a world where information is everywhere, knowing the latest leadership theory isn't enough. Real leadership development comes through formation, relationships, context, and having people you trust enough to tell you what you need to hear. Learn more from Daniel in his book, The Trust Circle.