The podcast that tackles trending topics in the employee benefits and HR world… and hopefully entertains along the way. Tune in biweekly to stay informed of the latest trends and industry insights to help you develop an exceptional workplace.
In this episode, host Jeff Cross sits down with Jon Cooper, Founder and CEO of Overalls, to explore how employees lose 17% of their workday to personal life distractions, and what employers can do to reclaim that time. Cooper shares the surprising range of issues Overalls tackles and why a broad, comprehensive support model outperforms traditional point solutions. Together, they dig into the…
Employers are spending more than ever on healthcare, yet many benefits go underused and employees remain unsure how to navigate them. The problem isn’t the benefits themselves, but the outdated ways they’re managed and communicated. In this episode, host Jeff Cross talks with Rohan D’Souza, Co-Founder & CEO of Avante, about how AI is transforming benefits. Together, they explore how AI-powered…
Tired of watching your employee benefits costs climb year after year? In this episode of Friends with Employee Benefits , we explore how one company broke free from the costly, fully insured model and took control with a self-funded approach using a group healthcare captive. Our guest, Anthony Luis, Director of Human Resources and Administration at Horst Engineering, shares their phased journey to…
In this episode, host Jeff Cross speaks with Brian Cutler, CEO of Loureiro Engineering, an employee-owned global engineering company based in Plainville, Connecticut. Brian shares the compelling story behind Loureiro Engineering's decision to transition from a traditional group health insurance plan to an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA after several years of high…
Did you know that caregiving is the second leading reason employees leave the workforce, right after retirement?* In this insightful episode, host Jeff Cross sits down with George Nightingale and Adriana Medina from Homethrive to shine a light on the often-overlooked challenges faced by working caregivers. The conversation reveals how many employees don’t even realize they’re caregivers — leading…
In this episode, we sit down with Darrin Tulley, Fractional Operating and People Officer at Koster Keunen, a global manufacturer of waxes. During this conversation, we dive into the world of fractional work—a growing trend that’s changing how companies and professionals connect. Darrin explains why more organizations are turning to fractional roles, and how this approach brings fresh talent,…
We recently sat down with Daniel Lawhon, the driving force behind First Tracks Health. Daniel shares his unique journey and sheds light on the current mental health landscape, exploring why anxiety and depression are on the rise and what employers can do to support their teams. Jeff Cross and Daniel dive deep into the challenges of accessing quality, affordable care, and how First Tracks Health is…
John Lufburrow, Chief Revenue Officer at ReviveHealth, joins Jeff Cross on the podcast to discuss how employers can move past the traditional EAP programs to drive greater impact on their workforces' mental health. From their successful virtual care clinic solution to mental health Rx (not what you think it is!) and weight health vs. weight loss, these two have a great conversation around how a…
According to the 2025 Employer Health Care Strategy Survey by Business Group on Health, 27% of an employer's healthcare spending was due to pharmacy costs in 2023, up from 21% in 2021. And it's not slowing down anytime soon as this becomes one of the fastest-growing expense categories for businesses. To understand why pharmacy costs continue to rise, we invited Richard Lo , Director of Clinical…
We sat down with Dr. Brian Williams, a family medicine physician in Mystic, Connecticut, to get his perspective on the current healthcare system in America and how we, as individuals, can live healthier lifestyles as well as create healthier workplaces for our employees. During this discussion, we delve into why we don't see ads for broccoli or fish on TV, the controversial role GLP-1s play in…