HRchat Podcast

What if the fastest way to modernise HR isn’t ripping out systems or buying another mega-platform but connecting what you already have in a smarter way? In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, Bill Banham sits down with James Davies , CEO of Kinetic Data , to explore how an agility layer can transform fragmented HR and enterprise processes into simple, human-centred workflows employees actually use...

What if mental fitness sat on your calendar like any other business priority? We sit down with Ryan Komori , founder and CEO of Savor Lining, to map a practical path from good intentions to real behavior change at work. Ryan shares a raw account of his own burnout and recovery, then lays out a system that helps teams build skills before crises hit: anonymous, therapist-led classes scheduled during...

Benefits have become the make-or-break factor in how people choose employers, stay engaged, and perform at their best. We sit down with Neil Ryland , CRO at Benifex, to unpack the Big Benefits Report 2025–2026 and translate its findings into practical plays HR teams can run now. From measuring ROI to closing the “value void,” this conversation maps the shift from perks to performance. We dig into...

Want a clear view of where HR in Ireland is heading and how to prepare your team for what’s next? Bill Banham sits down with Alison Hodgson, Market Director at CIPD Ireland , to map the practical priorities that will define people leadership in 2026: target operating models tuned to strategy, a smarter approach to productivity in hybrid work, cultures that enable creativity, and talent systems bui...

The hidden cost of untreated menopause in the workplace isn’t just personal discomfort—it’s lost productivity, stalled careers, and organisations quietly losing experienced talent. In this episode of the HRchat Podcast , host Pauline James sits down with Dr Woganee Filate , respirologist, sleep medicine physician, and co-founder of Loom Women’s Health, to unpack how menopause directly affects perf...

What if the biggest AI disruption isn’t at the entry level, but right in the middle of your org chart? Bill Banham sits down with Brian Kropp, VP of Global Insights at Heidrick and Struggles, to explore why the winners are treating AI as a people and change problem, not a tech project—and how that shift rewrites HR’s mandate. We start with speed. Startups jump from idea to pilot in 30 days; large...

In a tight labour market, employers can’t afford slow, unclear hiring - yet moving fast without fairness creates risk, bias, and damage to your employer brand. In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, Bill Banham welcomes Stuart Potter , Senior Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University and contributor to digital skills initiatives supporting SMEs, to explore the real-world use of AI, automation, and empl...

Is mid or late career really a slow fade — or could it be a powerful new beginning? In the first HRchat episode of 2026, host Pauline James is joined by career development pioneer Gillian Johnston to challenge outdated ideas about career progression, age, and value at work. Drawing on nearly five decades shaping career standards and programmes in Canada and internationally, Gillian reframes work b...

With the support of Personio, we’re bringing Disrupt back to Dublin with a format built for action: five-minute lightning talks, auto-advancing slides, and zero fluff. After years of webinars and multitasking, Dublin gets a night where ideas hit hard, conversations move fast, and the network you build matters. Ahead of the festive break, Bill Banham sat down with Disrupt Dublin co-organizer Ben Ge...

What if the biggest disruption to work isn’t AI, automation, or hybrid models—but a 100-year-old idea about when careers are supposed to peak and decline? In episode 868, Pauline James speaks with Lisa Taylor, CEO of Challenge Factory , about why traditional career models are fundamentally broken in a world where many people will live well into their 80s and beyond. Together, they unpack how outda...

In this episode, Bill Banham sits down with Jennifer McClure , founder of DisruptHR , to explore how HR leaders can turn people strategy into measurable business results, build credible investment cases, and lead in an era where AI is reshaping work faster than plans can keep up . We start by tackling one of HR’s toughest barriers: resistance. Why do leaders shy away from quantifying problems, mod...

Forget the headlines predicting a “workerless workforce.” In this episode, host Bill Banham sits down with longtime cloud and SaaS analyst Phil Wainwright to cut through the hype and examine what AI agents really mean for HR, business leaders, and the people doing the work. Phil argues that automation can be transformative—but calling software a “workforce” conceals the real challenges organisatio...

The Future of Learning: Turning Training into Performance with Rob Rosenthal, President of Udemy Business The ground is shifting under every team — and the biggest winners are the ones treating learning not as a checkbox, but as a performance system that fuels growth, agility, and innovation. In this in-depth episode of the HRchat Podcast, host Bill Banham sits down with Rob Rosenthal , President...

Pressure is rising on DEI programs, but the smartest companies aren’t retreating—they’re getting clearer. In this episode, Bill Banham welcomes global inclusion expert Dean Delpeache back to the show to unpack the legal, cultural, and practical forces reshaping workplace equity and belonging. From U.S. executive orders to multinational ripple effects, Dean breaks down what’s actually changing insi...

Strategy isn’t a wishlist—it’s a series of tough choices about where to play and how to win. In this episode, economist, entrepreneur, and Strategic Value Creation author Rupert Morrison joins Bill Banham to break down why so many organisations confuse goals with strategy, and how to build a simple, practical system that links strategy to plans, KPIs, and boardroom decisions. Rupert walks through...

Want a real-world look at how AI is reshaping work without the hype? Dr. Mary Hayes joins us to explore what employees actually feel about AI, why optimism varies across countries and roles, and how leaders can turn uncertainty into momentum through honest, practical communication. We dig into ADP Research findings that reveal a surprising truth: many executives admit they don’t yet know how AI wi...

Strategy beats panic when work changes this fast. We sit down with Karla Eidem, North American Regional Managing Director at the Project Management Institute , to explore how HR can turn AI disruption into a springboard for skills, execution, and meaningful outcomes. From facts over fear to practical, lightweight tools, we walk through the moves that help teams adapt with less noise and more impac...

How much of your benefits budget actually helps people live and work better? In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, host Bill Banham sits down with David Duckworth , Co-Founder and COO at Ben , to explore why so much global benefits spend gets wasted—and how a smarter, more human approach can turn perks into performance. David draws on his background in payments, financial services, and HR tech to...

Policy headwinds are rising, but the work still needs doing. In this episode of the HRchat Podcast , host Bill Banham sits down with Pavel Shynkarenko , founder of Mellow , to unpack the ripple effects of proposed H-1B and L-1 visa reforms —and a possible 25% outsourcing levy —on the global freelance and contractor economy. Pavel has spent more than 20 years in financial and HR technology, buildin...

How can HR leaders use AI and data-driven insights to make work fairer, more engaging, and more efficient — without adding complexity or risk? In this episode of the HRchat Podcast , host Bill Banham welcomes back Lindsay Clayborne , Chief of Staff at Cardata , the fully managed vehicle reimbursement partner helping companies modernize outdated car allowance programs with smarter, fairer, and IRS-...

According to today's guest, most hires don’t fail because they can’t do the work, they fail because their mindset clashes with how the work gets done. In this HRchat episode, Bill Bnaham sits down with New York Times best‑selling author Mark Murphy, founder of Leadership IQ, to unpack why attitude, not technical skill, is the main reason good resumes turn into bad hires, and how to fix the in...

In this episode, guest hosts Pauline James and David Creelman welcome culture strategist and author Dr. Jessica Kriegel for a conversation on how leaders can use AI thoughtfully to enhance, not replace, the human side of work. In this lively discussion, Jessica unpacks what’s really happening inside organizations as AI, culture, and change management collide. She explains why this is the “moment f...

In April–June 2025, 948,000 young people aged 16–24 in the UK were classified as NEET, not in education, employment, or training. That’s 12.5% of the youth population , a worrying rise from the previous quarter and year. In this episode, host Bill Banham sits down with Sam Squire , CEO of Inspire 2 Ignite CIC , to unpack what’s driving this crisis—and how a new generation of community leaders, edu...

Change doesn’t fail because people are stubborn; it fails because the rollout forgets how humans actually change. In this HRchat episode, Bill Banham sits down with Georgie Cooke, Learning and Change Strategist co-founder of Lima Delta, to unpack why so many transformations lose steam and how to design plans that stick.  From status quo bias and risk aversion to the quiet power of team norms, Geor...

Walter Sabrin takes us behind the scenes of one of the most remarkable growth stories in the HR industry. As Chief Talent Officer at Vensure Employer Solutions, he's orchestrated talent strategy through 94 acquisitions in just six years, transforming a company with modest beginnings into the world's largest private HR outsourcing firm. The phrase "violent execution" might sound...