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It's About Payroll

It's About Payroll

Written by: WRKdefined
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 Brian Escobar and Walter William Duncan III are the hosts of It’s About Payroll. Collectively, they have over 4 decades of experience in the payroll industry. This podcast was created with the intent of sharing their knowledge and attracting new talent to the payroll industry. ItsAboutPayroll.io You can access their LinkedIn profiles. https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/escobarbrian https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/william-duncan-477051187All rights reserved by WRKdefined Economics Politics & Government
Episodes
  • The Future of Benefits: Smarter Systems & Better Humans w/ Melissa Walker

    The Future of Benefits: Smarter Systems & Better Humans w/ Melissa Walker
    Jan 26 2026
    What if benefits weren’t just a cost center—but your biggest competitive advantage? In Episode 193, we’re joined by Melissa Walker, Co-Founder & VP of Brokerage at Sounder Benefits, to break down how AI + innovation + human connection are reshaping healthcare benefits for modern companies. Melissa went from working inside major insurance carriers to building a brokerage that brings enterprise-level strategy to small and mid-size businesses—without the complexity. We talk real results, real strategy, and what it takes to make benefits actually work for employers and employees. Why only 1 in 4 Americans understand basic health insurance terms How AI took a 25% renewal increase down to 9% while improving coverage Why the “once-a-year renewal broker” model is dying The benefits + payroll connection (and how to stop deduction errors) Level-funded vs fully insured: when it’s time to rethink your plan The truth about the Affordable Care Act — helped or hurt? How to tell if your broker is driving value—or just quoting plans Why planning before renewal season is the new power move What tech actually reduces payroll/benefits mistakes How modern benefits help attract and retain younger talent The future of payroll: becoming payroll pilots, not just processors Payroll pros, HR leaders, benefits admins, CFOs, business owners—and anyone tired of watching premiums rise while employee understanding drops. Melissa is licensed in all 50 states with 15+ years across both brokerage and carrier sides. Her mission: make healthcare more affordable, accessible, and less confusing through strategy + proprietary tech. 📲 Connect with Melissa LinkedIn: Melissa Walker Sounder Benefits: sounderbenefits.com Email: info@sounderbenefits.com 🎙️ About It’s About Payroll A show where payroll professionals, HR leaders, and innovators share real talk on payroll, benefits, workforce operations—and what’s next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    59 mins
  • Season 15 in Review an a bonus payroll true crime tangent

    Season 15 in Review an a bonus payroll true crime tangent
    Jan 19 2026
    In this Season 15 Review episode of It’s About Payroll, Brian Escobar and Walter dive into the biggest conversations, lessons, and surprises from the season — and uncover some eye-opening payroll realities along the way. The episode kicks off with a look at major news impacting payroll professionals, including minimum wage increases across multiple states starting January 1, with more coming later in 2026 in states like Alaska, Florida, and Oregon. The hosts also break down Amazon Business Prime’s new partnership perks, offering payroll, HR, accounting, and cybersecurity benefits through Gusto, QuickBooks, and CrowdStrike — saving businesses an average of $1,000 annually. The heart of the episode revisits Season 15’s most popular topics: payroll disasters, implementation failures, true payroll crime stories, and compliance breakdowns that cost companies millions. Brian and Walt highlight a recurring theme across all episodes — most payroll fraud lasts 16–18 months before detection, often due to lack of internal controls and oversight. From time theft and wage theft to insider data breaches, the hosts make one thing clear: payroll is no longer just processing checks — it’s protecting the business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • The Death of Payroll Cutoff Times: Payroll in Minutes, Not Days!

    The Death of Payroll Cutoff Times: Payroll in Minutes, Not Days!
    Jan 12 2026
    In Episode 191 of It’s About Payroll, Brian and Walt sit down with Trent Sorbe, Chief Payments Officer at First International Bank & Trust and leader of Kotapay, one of the nation’s largest ACH and electronic payments originators supporting more than 100,000 payroll clients nationwide. With over 33 years in financial services, Trent shares his journey from the FDIC to fintech founder to payments executive and offers a powerful look into how real-time payments, modern funding models, and “windowless payroll” are reshaping the industry. Trent explains how payroll is undergoing a generational shift as longtime professionals retire and technology becomes the new gateway for attracting talent. He outlines why traditional ACH cutoffs, banking hours, and multi-day payroll windows are becoming obsolete and how real-time funding can compress a payroll event from days into minutes. The conversation dives deep into risk management, small-business payroll access, earned wage access challenges, regulatory complexity across 50 states, and why payroll must evolve into a real-time financial services experience. This episode is a must-listen for payroll leaders, processors, and technology providers preparing for the next era of payroll. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins
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