Episodes

  • Champagne, Change, and the CPO's Playbook: Amy Amy Mosher and Celia Fleischaker on HR’s Real AI Shift

    Champagne, Change, and the CPO's Playbook: Amy Amy Mosher and Celia Fleischaker on HR’s Real AI Shift
    Jun 29 2025
    Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary finally catch up with Amy Mosher (Chief People Officer) and Celia Fleischaker (Chief Marketing Officer) after a few tech hurdles and plenty of banter. This conversation blends HR leadership with real-time transformation, as Amy and Celia break down what HR teams are actually dealing with—beyond the buzzwords. They dive into the results from isolved’s latest HR Leaders Report, exposing the real tensions between employer priorities and employee well-being, and why HR now has to do more with less—again. Amy brings the CPO perspective: where AI isn't a looming threat but a practical tool to give time back to people. Celia adds insight on how adoption is happening—not everywhere, but in the right places—and why optimization isn’t about buying more software, but using it better. The episode closes with personal reflections on “People Heroes,” a term that becomes more than just branding—framing HR as mission-driven professionals navigating change, empathy, and impact. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: chaos, chemistry, and pink champagne 02:12 — Keynote preview: HR Leader Report, product solutions, and real-world application 04:46 — Why live feedback loops between customers and product matter 06:19 — The HR pendulum: shifting power back to the employer 07:13 — AI trust is rising, but clarity still determines adoption 08:47 — Amy on what AI is—and isn’t—replacing in HR 09:52 — Understanding leads to acceptance: the human side of HR tech 12:00 — Pandemic reflections and the return of real empathy in business 13:34 — Are HR teams actually adopting new tech? Where, how, and why 14:50 — Optimization over expansion: using what you already have 17:01 — Amy defines People Heroes: HR on a mission to change the world 17:42 — Celia’s take: empathy, selflessness, and life-stage impact through HR 18:32 — Tearjerker warning and the last laugh with two of isolved’s best This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.
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    19 mins
  • Beyond the Bank: Art Kimball on Financial Access, Earned Wage Ethics, and Getting Paid Your Way

    Beyond the Bank: Art Kimball on Financial Access, Earned Wage Ethics, and Getting Paid Your Way
    Jun 29 2025
    What do Walmart cash pickups, DoorDash paychecks, and AI-powered wage access have in common? A future where your job doesn’t need a bank to pay you. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Art Kimball from Green Dot’s rapid! division to explore the evolving world of pay distribution and why traditional payroll systems are failing today’s workforce. From unbanked middle-class workers to Gen Z avoiding resumes altogether, this episode unpacks how earned wage access is reshaping employee expectations—and why choice, ethics, and transparency matter more than ever. Art also breaks down why payroll needs guardrails, how predatory models are slipping through, and what HR leaders should be asking before rolling out any pay-on-demand solution. If you think early access to pay is just a “nice-to-have,” you’re already behind. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: Kimball museums, DNA detectives, and HR talk derailed 03:20 — What is Green Dot? Financial inclusion and the unbanked 04:56 — Earned wage access: how rapid! gives employees control 05:25 — Walmart cash pickup: payroll without a bank 06:46 — Breaking payroll traditions: why the biweekly check is outdated 07:11 — rapid! vs Green Dot: B2B vs DTC, and launching with Samsung 09:13 — Text-to-pay: money movement through mobile 10:21 — The client sell: helping HR leaders compete with gig work 11:10 — Why fast food led the earned wage revolution 13:00 — The hidden trap: taxes, benefits, and getting it wrong 14:34 — Net vs gross access: how rapid! protects employees and employers 15:45 — Guardrails, fee caps, and the ethics of access 16:27 — The payday loan problem: not all wage access is created equal 18:33 — Financial literacy: the real challenge isn’t access, it’s behavior 20:09 — Why delivery mechanisms matter more than you think 20:40 — People Heroes defined: showing up, staying human, and doing the work This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.
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    21 mins
  • AI, Ethics, and HR’s New Balancing Act: Tami Nutt on Risk, Responsibility, and What Comes Next

    AI, Ethics, and HR’s New Balancing Act: Tami Nutt on Risk, Responsibility, and What Comes Next
    Jun 29 2025
    What do audits, algorithms, and HR policy have in common? More than you think—and the consequences of getting it wrong are growing by the day. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Tami Nutt, VP at Aspect 43, to unpack the uncomfortable truths about AI in HR: what’s regulated, what’s not, and why HR leaders can’t afford to stay in the dark. Tami walks through the critical questions HR should be asking their vendors, the myth of in-house AI audits, and why ethical AI starts with knowing what not to automate. From compliance landmines in NYC to why “just because you can doesn’t mean you should” is the new HR tech mantra, this episode puts the spotlight on accountability. If your HR tech pitch doesn’t include third-party audits, transparent data sourcing, or human-centric design—this is your red flag. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: Texas shoutouts, Jersey slander, and opening laughs 02:07 — Tami 's keynote preview: AI, HR, and what compliance really means 03:00 — The compliance blind spot: why ethical AI matters now more than ever 04:27 — NYC laws, vendor audits, and who’s really on the hook for bad AI 05:34 — Buyer beware: the questions you must ask your HR tech vendors 06:44 — Risk, bias, and invisible decisions: the human cost of unchecked AI 07:58 — Can your sales rep explain your AI model? Why they should 08:50 — Proof, not pitch decks: how to verify real compliance claims 10:10 — Open vs closed models: training data, risk layers, and hybrid approaches 12:15 — Empathy over automation: where AI doesn’t belong 14:00 — Post-COVID reality: HR changed, but did leadership forget? 17:17 — Sales and cost savings now outrank recruiting—why HR is stuck in the middle 18:35 — HR’s new mandate: connect people strategy to business performance 19:38 — Live demos, real audits, and vendor red flags to watch 20:51 — Tami 's final takeaway: make AI actionable, human, and accountable now This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.
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    22 mins
  • From Filing Cabinets to Frontline Advocacy: Paige La Fever on Community, Customers, and Culture at isolved

    From Filing Cabinets to Frontline Advocacy: Paige La Fever on Community, Customers, and Culture at isolved
    Jun 29 2025
    What do a basement full of paper records, a ferry ride to work, and a thriving customer advisory board have in common? They're all part of the story behind isolved’s “people heroes” movement. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with Paige La Fever, Director of Community Relations at isolved, to unpack how HR tech companies can build real trust—not just tools. Paige reveals how isolved’s community evolved from a tactical advocacy platform into a strategic growth engine, giving HR pros a voice, visibility, and an actual seat at the product table. From leveraging Influitive to activate customer networks to letting executives take live feedback on the chin, this episode is a crash course in customer intimacy at scale. She also shares why letting clients leave gracefully is the key to long-term retention—and why some do come back. And in the middle of it all? A payroll hero from Alaska who went from paper trails to panel talks. If your idea of “community” still involves newsletters and a Slack channel, this conversation will recalibrate your playbook. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from isolved Connect: conference formats, partner strategy, and a face for radio 01:14 — Meet Paige: reputation, advocacy, references, and a whole lot more 02:30 — People Heroes origins: how a tactical program turned into a customer-led movement 03:42 — How isolved uses Influitive to power connection, feedback, and activation 05:00 — Why most vendor communities fail—and why this one didn’t 06:22 — Transparency in action: when product feedback gets answered on the spot 07:53 — Advisory boards, real feedback, and expanding by industry or size 09:34 — Customer story: Jaylene in Alaska, from file cabinets to featured panelist 11:03 — What “People Heroes” really means—and why isolved sees itself as the sidekick 12:04 — Winning over new HR leaders who didn’t choose isolved 13:25 — Why a graceful offboarding is the best retention strategy 14:46 — The part of isolved people don’t see: it still feels like family 16:07 — Analyst relations, vendor bias, and navigating credibility in paid ecosystems 18:34 — Wrapping with Irish goodbyes and party predictions This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.
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    20 mins
  • From the Classroom to the C-Suite: Patty Kallman on Feedback, Trust, and Teaching People How to Work Better

    From the Classroom to the C-Suite: Patty Kallman on Feedback, Trust, and Teaching People How to Work Better
    Jun 29 2025
    What do 8th graders, international trade shows, and HR feedback culture have in common? According to Patty Kallman—everything. Recorded live at isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Patty Kallman, Director of Professional Development at Kallman Worldwide, to unpack the parallels between education and leadership development. Patty brings a nontraditional HR lens to the table, drawing from her 16 years in the classroom and her PhD in education. The conversation digs into the real markers of disengagement, why pizza parties don’t solve burnout, and how to create safe, trust-driven work environments without hiding behind anonymous surveys. They cover the reality of post-COVID growth, hybrid work patterns, the psychology of feedback, and the surprising similarities between a high school dropout and a disengaged employee. Whether you're leading 50 people or 2,000, this episode drives home one point: trust isn't scalable without intention—and feedback without safety is noise. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: trade shows, podcast jokes, and teacher energy 00:54 — Patty's origin story: from high school classrooms to company leadership 02:55 — From 50 to 9 to 57: rebuilding a team post-COVID 03:45 — Disengagement red flags: the data behind absentee patterns 04:43 — Culture isn't bean bags: how post-COVID leadership must evolve 05:16 — The feedback gap: why most managers never ask the right questions 06:30 — Building feedback loops without fear or punishment 07:19 — Proactive vs reactive leadership in small orgs 08:10 — Anonymous feedback vs real conversations: what’s actually useful 08:52 — Trust is a two-way street: transparency, consistency, and intent 10:24 — Clear intent: what HR can learn from military command structures 12:17 — The power of storytelling to align managers and mission 14:14 — What being a “People Hero” actually looks like in practice 15:02 — Creating environments where people thrive, not just survive This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.
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    16 mins
  • Global Workforce, Local Trust: Barry Flanagan and Steve McWright on Payroll Visibility, Compliance Risks, and Leading with Empathy

    Global Workforce, Local Trust: Barry Flanagan and Steve McWright on Payroll Visibility, Compliance Risks, and Leading with Empathy
    Jun 29 2025
    Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Barry Flanagan and Steve McWright to dissect the mess of managing global payroll—and the unexpected consequences of getting it wrong. From pouring the perfect pint of Guinness to navigating compliance chaos in Poland and Argentina, this episode blends humor with hard truths. Barry and Steve share how hidden jurisdiction issues, fragmented systems, and reactive processes threaten not just legal standing, but employee trust. The solution? Full visibility, automation, and radical transparency. They walk through a success story of seven countries unified under one platform, and explain why access to accurate information isn't just operationally smart—it’s a philosophy for 2025. People heroes aren't just administrators. They’re leaders who consolidate, automate, and empathize. Timestamps: 00:00 — Guinness, rugby, and global context: the Irish connection to compliance 04:28 — The real challenge: payroll consolidation across countries and services 06:17 — Success story: 7 countries, 1 platform, total workforce clarity 07:39 — Compliance blind spots from COVID-era remote work 08:32 — Hyperinflation and policy reversals: Argentina, Poland, France 10:03 — The cost of non-compliance: lost benefits, broken trust 12:08 — Steve on the path forward: automate, empower, consolidate 13:00 — Barry on transparency as HR’s 2025 leadership mandate 14:07 — Defining People Heroes: empathy, leadership, and showing up This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.
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    17 mins
  • Power, Perception, and Payroll: Stacey Harris on Bias, Budget Battles, and the Future of HR Tech

    Power, Perception, and Payroll: Stacey Harris on Bias, Budget Battles, and the Future of HR Tech
    Jun 29 2025
    Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with industry analyst and keynote speaker Stacey Harris for a candid conversation that starts with leveling up HR—and doesn’t let up. From who really controls HR tech budgets (hint: not always HR) to why women in HR leadership still need more data to be trusted, this episode breaks down the hidden dynamics shaping the profession. Stacey unpacks why "HR is female-led" is both true and misleading, and how bias, brand perception, and clustering tech stacks intersect with business outcomes. The trio tackle tough topics: why women hold back other women, what trust really looks like in the C-suite, and the silent shift of HR tech decisions back to IT and finance. If you think compliance is boring, or gender equity is a solved problem, this one will force a second look. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live in Charlotte: pre-show chaos, banter, and keynote aftermath 01:00 — Leveling up HR: bias, perception, and why it still holds the function back 03:01 — Budget control shifts: from HR to IT, and the strategic consequences 04:43 — Branding HR tech to the C-Suite: who needs to know your name 06:00 — The Frankenstein effect: point solutions, data silos, and creeping IT takeover 08:04 — The “clustering model” explained: 3-4 anchors + best-of-suite agility 09:05 — Who should own vendor relationships? HR vs IT and business outcomes 10:00 — Why native integrations beat shallow “whizzy-wig” solutions 10:33 — The gender gap at the top: 70% female in HR, but not in leadership 13:00 — Why time tracking is a leadership issue, not just a process 14:50 — AI, wearables, and HR's frontline role in privacy and compliance 17:10 — The new compliance reality: constant change, no time to catch up 18:33 — Selling HR strategy: know your execs, brand, and organizational dynamics 21:25 — Women holding women back: the zero-sum trap in executive rooms 24:30 — Bias vs preference: how unconscious filters shape hiring and promotion 27:00 — Why women in HR bring more data—and why it’s expected of them 30:00 — Transformational leadership traits: how gender impacts process priorities 32:11 — Metric visibility gaps for female HR leaders 33:30 — Trust, retention, and why staying power matters more than ever This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.
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    39 mins
  • Inside Payroll Fraud: Steve Lenderman on Synthetic Identities, Insider Risks, and the Battle for Trust

    Inside Payroll Fraud: Steve Lenderman on Synthetic Identities, Insider Risks, and the Battle for Trust
    Jun 29 2025
    Forget fire drills—most HR leaders don’t even know the building’s on fire. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Steve Lenderman, Head of Fraud Prevention at isolved, for a sobering look inside the underbelly of payroll fraud—and what most vendors aren’t telling you. From synthetic identities and device biometrics to dark web marketplaces and machine learning scams, Steve exposes how payroll fraud is evolving faster than most teams can keep up—and why treating payroll like a bank is the only path forward. This episode isn’t just a wake-up call—it’s a blueprint for survival in a world where one compromised login can bankrupt a business. If your payroll provider can’t answer basic questions about fraud prevention, you’re already at risk. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: small shows, real conversations 00:45 — Steve Lenderman joins: banking roots and the road to isolved 02:05 — Payroll is banking: incoming, outgoing, and holding funds 04:26 — First-party fraud: fictitious businesses and payroll float scams 07:00 — Third-party fraud: account takeovers, ghost employees, diverted funds 08:29 — Predictive vs. reactive fraud models: what payroll should learn from banks 10:05 — Digital identity: from mouse movements to behavioral biometrics 12:07 — Twins and bad data: how traditional identity checks fall short 14:05 — Synthetic identity: the rise of fully fake individuals and businesses 16:04 — The new dark web: fraud tactics now shared on open platforms 17:51 — Cyber ≠ fraud: most fraud starts with cyber, but ends with money 20:00 — The $10M problem: why local law enforcement won’t touch payroll fraud 20:57 — The knockout question: “What’s your fraud prevention posture?” 23:39 — Final warning: if fraud prevention isn’t baked into the product, run This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.
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    25 mins