The H.I.T. Podcast

What if the skills your organization needs are already sitting inside your company?

In Part 2 of this conversation, Angela Finlay joins The H.I.T. Podcast to discuss skill stacking, talent architecture, and how organizations can better identify, develop, and leverage the talent they already have.

As job roles continue to evolve and technology reshapes the workplace, leaders must rethink how they evaluate skills, reward development, and prepare employees for the future.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How individuals can inventory and validate their skills
• Using AI and peer feedback to uncover strengths and blind spots
• Turning performance reviews into meaningful skill assessments
• Why organizations should reward leaders who develop talent
• The power of "micro-mentoring" and learning from internal experts
• Making mentorship and development available to everyone—not just high-potential employees.

How companies overlook valuable internal talent while searching externally

Why linking performance, development, and reward systems is critical for future success.

With workplace skills evolving faster than ever, this conversation offers practical insights for leaders looking to build stronger teams and future-proof their organizations.

Like and subscribe for weekly conversations at the intersection of HR, insurance, and technology.

What if your greatest career advantage isn't your job title—but the unique combination of skills you've built throughout your life?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy sits down with Angela Blum-Finlay, senior HR executive, author, and "CHRO on demand," to discuss her book Skill Stacking and why career success is often built at the intersection of seemingly unrelated experiences.

Angela explains how professionals frequently underestimate the value they've gained from volunteer work, side projects, parenting, leadership roles, and everyday problem-solving.

What You'll Learn

• What Skill Stacking is and why it matters
• Why your value comes from a combination of experiences—not just expertise

The STACK Framework:

• Supportive Skills
• Tactical Skills
• Adaptive Skills
• Complimentary Skills
• Knowledge-Seeking Skills

How to identify hidden strengths you've developed over time

Why many people struggle to articulate their true value

How AI can help uncover skills buried within your work and life experiences

Whether you're a student, professional, leader, or someone considering a career change, this conversation offers practical tools to better understand and communicate what makes you uniquely valuable.

What happens when employees stop trusting leadership?

In Part 2 of this conversation on The H.I.T. Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna returns to discuss the real-world impact of trust on culture, leadership, performance, and retention.

Drawing from his research and book Whole Leaders, Wild Trust, Dr. McKenna explains why trust is one of the most powerful—and overlooked—drivers inside organizations.

What We Cover

• Why high-trust organizations outperform low-trust cultures
• The four trust environments: Stronghold, Jungle, Shell, and Islands
• Why nearly 48% of employees operate in “jungle” environments
• The role of sacrificial courage in leadership
• How low trust creates emotional exhaustion and “fake belonging”
• The three questions every employee is asking:
• Do I matter?
• Are you telling me the truth?
• Do I belong?

Leadership Takeaways

• Invest in people as whole humans—not just performers

• Build cultures where teams can “fight well” through healthy conflict

• Grow organizations only at the speed of trust

If you lead people, shape culture, or want to build stronger teams, this episode delivers practical insight backed by real research.

Like and subscribe for weekly conversations at the intersection of HR, insurance, and technology.

What does trust actually look like inside an organization — and can it be measured?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy sits down with Dr. Rob McKenna, founder of Wild Leaders and author of the USA Today bestselling book Whole Leaders, Wild Trust.

Dr. McKenna explains why trust is one of the most important—and most misunderstood—drivers of organizational success. More importantly, he shows how leaders can move beyond vague conversations about “culture” and begin measuring the specific behaviors that build trust.

What We Cover

• What WILD stands for: Whole and Intentional Leader Development
• Why trust is essential for performance, retention, and accountability
• The Wild Trust Index, which measures 33 specific drivers of trust
• Why leadership development is fundamentally trust-building
• How job clarity creates accountability and confidence
• The importance of truth-telling and healthy conflict
• Why emotional maturity is a foundational leadership skill

A Powerful Endorsement

Dr. McKenna also shares how Stephen Covey, author of The Speed of Trust, wrote the foreword to his book after recognizing the importance of measuring the inputs that create trust—not just the outcomes.

If you lead people, shape culture, or want to build a stronger organization, this episode offers practical, research-backed insights you can apply immediately.

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, we sit down with Scott Walker, former Scotland Yard detective, kidnap-for-ransom negotiator, bestselling author, and negotiation expert.

After handling more than 300 high-stakes cases around the world, Scott shares practical communication strategies that apply just as powerfully in business, leadership, sales, and personal relationships.

What We Cover:

• Why the ultimate goal of any negotiation is cooperation and collaboration.
• The power of selfless empathy—making others feel truly seen and understood
• Scott’s mantra: “Observe, Don’t Absorb” ????
• How people constantly reveal their true thoughts and emotions (“leaky humans”)
• The importance of emotional regulation and staying grounded under pressure
• Why silence may be your most underrated communication tool

Tactical Tools You Can Use Immediately:

• The Grounding Technique to stay calm and centered
• The Bunch of Fives to anticipate objections before they arise
• Level Five Listening to uncover what’s really going on
• The Empathy Loop to build trust and encourage openness
• Strategic use of silence to let the other person reveal more

Scott is also the author of Order Out of Chaos and Eye of the Storm, where he expands on these powerful techniques.

If you want to become a better communicator, negotiator, or leader, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.

Learn more at redcenterglobal.com

What can a Scotland Yard hostage negotiator teach us about business, leadership, and everyday conversations?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, we sit down with Scott Walker, a former Scotland Yard detective and kidnap-for-ransom negotiator who spent nearly 20 years handling over 300 high-stakes cases around the world.

Now a bestselling author of Order Out of Chaos and a global negotiation expert, Scott shares how his experience translates directly into business and personal interactions.

What We Cover

Why negotiation is simply a “conversation with a purpose”

• The power of emotional self-regulation—and how losing control can cost everything
• How to “observe, not absorb” emotions in high-pressure situations
• Why identity and status matter more than logic in decision-making
• How to dig deeper and uncover the real problem beneath the surface
• The importance of preparation and taking an elevated view in negotiation

This is a fascinating look at how skills developed in life-or-death situations can be applied to leadership, sales, and everyday communication.

In Part 2 of this conversation on The H.I.T. Podcast, Joe Van Brussel returns to go deeper on the real implications of AI in the workplace—and what leaders need to get right moving forward.

This episode moves beyond hype and into the human side of AI adoption.

We explore:

Why companies are rushing into AI—and the confusion it’s creating

The responsibility leaders have to slow down and set intentional guardrails

How over-reliance on AI can erode trust, communication, and creativity

The concept of “intellectual debt”—outsourcing thinking and losing real competence

Why reflection, boredom, and ownership of ideas still matter

How to integrate AI in a way that supports—not replaces—human connection

The conversation also touches on the broader philosophical question:

Will AI lead to a better future—or something closer to a cautionary tale? ????

If you’re a leader, operator, or someone navigating the future of work, this episode offers a grounded perspective on how to approach AI with intention.

Like and subscribe for weekly conversations at the intersection of HR, insurance, and technology.

About the Show:

The H.I.T. Podcast (Powered by Montage Insurance Solutions): A thought leader in the space, curating the top news and information to deliver a brief, high impact overview designed specifically for the Human Resources professional, business person, and company executive.

What is AI actually doing to the way we think and work?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, host Toby Kennedy sits down with Joe Van Brussel—creative director, writer, and philosopher—to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping creativity, decision-making, and professional work.

With experience at The New York Times and The Huffington Post, Joe brings a unique lens to the conversation—blending philosophy with real-world application.

We dive into:

• How AI can act as both a crutch (replacing critical thinking) and a tool (strengthening ideas)
• The “Robot Dog” effect — why AI tends to agree with you (and why that’s a problem)
• The risk of losing critical thinking skills in future generations
• How AI compares to past tech shifts like calculators, computers, and social media
• Why businesses may force AI adoption—ready or not

This is a thoughtful, honest look at where AI is helping—and where it might be hurting.

Part 2 drops next week, continuing the conversation.

Back at it again, with Joshua Barrows interviewing Toby Kennedy!

Here's the HOT question: What does it take to keep a great client?

In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Joshua Barrows shares a memorable analogy—comparing a valuable client to a “beautiful wife.”

The idea is simple: when something (or someone) is valuable, there will always be other options. In today’s marketplace, top clients are constantly being approached by brokers, vendors, and new technology solutions.

So how do you keep them?

We break down what actually matters:

• You can’t rely on artificial locks
• Contracts and barriers won’t protect a relationship long-term.
• Focus on your own grass
• Stop worrying about competitors—invest in making your current relationships stronger.
• Consistency matters
• Great relationships require constant attention and effort.
• Deliver real value
• When clients have options (and they will), they stay because they know they’re in the right place.

This is a simple but powerful mindset shift for anyone in business, leadership, or client-facing roles.

We flipped the show completely on its head for this one…

Joshua Barrows—payroll and HRIS guru—steps in as HOST…

and I’m in the guest chair.

That’s right—roles reversed.

(Yes… there may or may not be some jiu jitsu references)

In this special “backwards day” episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, we dive into the current state of the insurance industry, how things are evolving, and what makes Montage Insurance Solutions different.

What We Cover

• Why not all brokers are created equal
• How Montage operates as a high-touch, white glove alternative
• The growing demand for creative plan design (including self-funded strategies)
• How technology & AI are reshaping the benefits landscape
• The increasing fiduciary responsibility and compliance risk for employers
• Key annual requirements like ACA reporting, 5500s, and CMS filings

Inside Montage

• 100% privately owned (no PE, no outside pressure)
• Built around service, relationships, and long-term trust
• Consistently recognized as a best place to work
• A company culture rooted in doing things the right way

If you’ve ever wondered how the industry really works—or just want to see me on the other side of the mic—this one’s a fun and insightful listen.