Episodes

  • The Payroll Career Arc: Entry Level to Executive — What No One Tells You

    The Payroll Career Arc: Entry Level to Executive — What No One Tells You
    May 4 2026
    🔥 Is your payroll career stuck on autopilot? In this episode of It's About Payroll, Brian and Walt break down the real payroll career arc — from entry-level grind to strategic leadership — and the stage nobody talks about: the waiting period. Whether you're just starting out, feeling stagnant, or ready to level up, this episode is your roadmap. In this episode, we cover: ✅ The 4 stages of the payroll career journey ✅ Entry-level mistakes that hold payroll pros back ✅ How to move from "task-heavy" to strategic payroll leadership ✅ The dangerous waiting period — and how to survive it ✅ Why more money doesn't always mean less stress at the top ✅ The difference between being a payroll manager vs. a payroll LEADER ✅ AI layoffs in 2026: What 100,000+ tech job cuts mean for payroll pros ✅ Why 53% of employees would leave over ONE payroll mistake ✅ "I Should Have Known Better" — payroll war stories you'll relate to 💡 Key Insight: Payroll accuracy isn't just an operational issue — it's a retention strategy. One mistake can trigger turnover. 🎓 New Course dropping soon! Learn payroll inside a live payroll system. Perfect for career changers and new grads. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly payroll industry insights, career tips, and real talk from payroll professionals who've been in the trenches. 👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 📤 Share with a payroll pro who needs to hear this https://youtu.be/oTALfUt0KVo itsaboutpayroll.io #Payroll #PayrollCareers #HumanResources #HR #PayrollManager #CareerGrowth #PayrollProfessional #AILayoffs #PayrollTips #ItIsAboutPayroll #PayrollLeadership #CareerDevelopment #WorkplaceStrategy
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    41 mins
  • Payroll Like a Boss: The Movement Begins

    Payroll Like a Boss: The Movement Begins
    Apr 28 2026
    In Episode 204 of It’s About Payroll, Brian welcomes two powerhouse voices in payroll leadership: John Bernatovicz, founder of Willory, author, keynote speaker, podcast host, and HR/payroll leader, and Tammy Gillenwater, CPP, senior consultant at Willory, speaker, and advocate for the payroll profession. Together, John and Tammy discuss their upcoming book, Payroll Like a Boss, scheduled for release on April 28, 2026, during Global Payroll Week. The conversation explores how payroll professionals often feel invisible, why payroll must be seen as a strategic business function, and how leaders can develop payroll teams beyond gross-to-net processing and tax compliance. Tammy shares her journey of “falling into payroll” and later realizing it was a true career, while John explains how the “Like a Boss” concept grew from HR leadership into a payroll movement. Listeners will gain encouragement, practical perspective, and a renewed understanding of payroll’s role in business strategy, workforce planning, compliance, technology, and organizational impact.
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    55 mins
  • Why Are So Many Payroll Pros Open to Work?

    Why Are So Many Payroll Pros Open to Work?
    Mar 30 2026
    In Episode 202 of It’s About Payroll, Brian and Walt unpack a growing trend they are seeing across the profession: more HR and payroll professionals publicly sharing that they are open to work. They connect that observation to a softer 2026 labor market, slower hiring, longer job searches, and the pressure companies are feeling to stay lean. The conversation explores how payroll teams are being asked to do more with fewer people, why some senior professionals may be more vulnerable in tighter markets, and how automation is changing payroll roles without eliminating the work itself. The episode also dives into what makes payroll professionals more marketable today, including education, certifications, multi-state compliance knowledge, and a willingness to learn how AI can support the job. Brian and Walt also share the thinking behind PayQuest, their app designed to reduce spreadsheet chaos, improve accountability, and create cleaner audit trails for payroll-related payment requests. Listeners will walk away with perspective on the payroll job market, the future of the profession, and practical ideas for staying relevant in a changing environment.
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    36 mins
  • All Roads Lead to Payroll: 201 Episodes and a Book Later

    All Roads Lead to Payroll: 201 Episodes and a Book Later
    Mar 23 2026
    It's About Payroll – Episode 201 | Book Release, Payroll Myths & Economic Uncertainty 🎙️ We hit 201 episodes AND dropped a book — and we're not slowing down! In this milestone episode, Brian and Walt celebrate the release of It's About Payroll, share insider tips for self-publishing on Amazon KDP (including why you should buy your own ISBN numbers), and dive deep into what payroll really means for employees, companies, and the economy. 📌 In This Episode: 📚 Book release update + KDP self-publishing tips (ISBN numbers explained) 💸 Financial fitness: How to avoid subscription traps and sneaky renewal charges 🧾 Busting the biggest payroll misconceptions ("You must be good with numbers!") 🏈 Why payroll pros are the safeties of your organization 🌍 How economic uncertainty, inflation, and rising fuel costs hit payroll teams first ⚖️ The big debate: Technical accuracy vs. human communication — which matters more? 🏢 Compliance function vs. strategic leadership — where does payroll belong? 💡 Whether you're a seasoned payroll professional, an HR leader, or just curious about what payroll actually involves — this episode is packed with real talk, industry insights, and lessons learned from 200+ episodes in the game. 🔗 Get the Book: It's About Payroll — available now on Amazon 📖 Also check out Walt's book: Bruised But Not Broken Links: https://www.itsaboutpayroll.io/payrolluniversemedia https://youtu.be/T-dTJm2Nvic https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/its-about-payroll itsaboutpayroll.io 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on payroll, HR, and financial wellness 👍 Like this video if you found it valuable 💬 Comment below: Do you think payroll should report to Finance or HR? #Payroll #PayrollPodcast #HRProfessionals #PayrollTips #FinancialWellness #ItsAboutPayroll #KDPPublishing #EconomicUncertainty #PayrollCompliance #HumanResources #Podcast #CareerAdvice #PayrollLife #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship
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    47 mins
  • Episode 200 Just Changed the Future of Payroll!

    Episode 200 Just Changed the Future of Payroll!
    Mar 17 2026
    In Episode 200 of It’s About Payroll, Brian and Will celebrate a major milestone while sharing several big announcements tied to the future of Payroll Universe. The conversation centers on the recent launch of their book, which they describe as an empowering introduction to payroll careers for new grads, career pivoters, and even seasoned professionals looking for renewed perspective. They also discuss feedback from payroll leader Tasia Walker, who praised the book’s practical content, case studies, and potential to become a meaningful contribution to payroll education. The episode also introduces PayQuest, an app designed to reduce spreadsheet chaos, improve workflow accountability, and streamline fragmented payroll request processes. On top of that, they preview Payla the Panda’s growing role as a lighthearted mascot and educational game character, built to make payroll learning more engaging. Finally, they unveil the upcoming CPT, or Certified Payroll Technician program, a six-week introductory course created to help people break into payroll faster and address the industry’s need for new talent.
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    47 mins
  • $80K Payroll Theft: How a New Jersey City Employee Got Caught (+ Our Book Launch!)

    $80K Payroll Theft: How a New Jersey City Employee Got Caught (+ Our Book Launch!)
    Mar 9 2026
    🎙️ It's About Payroll Episode 199: True Payroll Crime Story & Book Announcement 📚 Big news! We announce our new book "It's About Payroll: Your Blueprint to Start, Grow and Lead from Entry Level to Leadership" – created to change the narrative that people just "fall into" payroll. This is a career path worth choosing intentionally! In This Episode: ✅ Book announcement & why the payroll industry needs career resources ✅ True payroll crime story: NJ clerk sentenced to 3 years for $80K timesheet fraud ✅ Key payroll control lessons: spreadsheet risks, segregation of duties, and audit discipline ✅ Why payroll leadership matters more than ever ✅ Inflation impact: $100K today = $60K in 2006 purchasing power ✅ Fun rapid-fire questions: movies, food, gaming & more Quotes of the Episode: "On the other side of impossible is greatness." – Brian "Faith and fear both demand you to believe in something you cannot see. You choose." – Bob Proctor 🔗 Important Links: 📖 Podcast Page: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/its-about-payroll 🌐 Main Website: https://www.itsaboutpayroll.io 📱 Payroll Universe Media: https://www.itsaboutpayroll.io/payrolluniversemedia 📱 YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/oydrqnefC6E 💬 Got payroll questions or topics? Drop them in the comments! 👍 Like | 🔔 Subscribe | 📢 Share with someone exploring career options! ItsAboutPayroll #PayrollCareer #payrollleadership #BookAnnouncement #payrollpodcast #careerdevelopment #books #reading #career
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    33 mins
  • Belonging Isn’t Soft, It’s Measurable

    Belonging Isn’t Soft, It’s Measurable
    Mar 3 2026
    In Episode 198 of It’s About Payroll, Brian Escobar and Walt Duncan III welcome Christopher Bylone, founder of Innovation Unbiased and host of I Know I Belong When, for a practical conversation on pay equity, belonging, and the role data plays in both. Christopher explains that pay equity is often misunderstood as only a men-versus-women issue, when in reality it must also account for race, ethnicity, disability, tenure, job level, and equivalent work. He breaks down concepts like pay transparency, the “unexplained gender pay gap,” and why companies can create inequity through new hires, promotions, and poor compensation practices. The conversation also expands beyond compensation into culture. Christopher argues that belonging can and should be measured through attrition, engagement, promotion patterns, and employee trust. One of the biggest takeaways: organizations should stop relying only on exit interviews and begin doing stay interviews regularly. For payroll, HR, and business leaders, this episode connects data, employee experience, and accountability in a way that is practical, human, and immediately actionable.
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    57 mins
  • Hayley Paterson: Why Payroll Is Your Secret Profit Generator

    Hayley Paterson: Why Payroll Is Your Secret Profit Generator
    Feb 23 2026
    Join us for an incredible conversation with Hayley Paterson, founder of The Payroll Guide and author of "The Value of Payroll"! Hayley shares her mission to transform how businesses view payroll—from a mundane transaction to a strategic business asset. In this episode, we dive deep into: ✅ Hayley's journey from accidentally falling into payroll to becoming a leading voice in the industry ✅ The Three Ps of Payroll: Process, People, and Profit—and why they matter ✅ Real payroll crime stories and lessons learned from embezzlement cases ✅ Why payroll deserves a seat at the leadership table ✅ How to shift from seeing payroll as a cost to viewing it as an investment ✅ Practical systems and habits to prevent payroll chaos ✅ Advice for new payroll professionals on avoiding perfectionism while maintaining excellence Hayley brings both boots-on-the-ground experience and big-picture leadership insights that every payroll professional and business owner needs to hear. Whether you're new to payroll or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with wisdom, practical frameworks, and inspiration. 📖 Get Hayley's book: "The Value of Payroll" https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-value-of-payroll-hayley-paterson/1147355300 https://www.amazon.com/Value-Payroll-Turning-biggest-asset/dp/1068447605 🔗 Connect with Hayley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayleypaterson/ #Payroll #PayrollProfessionals #TheValueOfPayroll #HayleyPaterson #PayrollStrategy #BusinessStrategy #PayrollLeadership #PayrollPodcast #PayrollCommunity #HRPayroll #PayrollCompliance #PayrollTips #SmallBusinessPayroll #PayrollManagement #PayrollExperts #PayrollIndustry #PayrollEducation #PayrollBook #ThreePs #ProcessPeopleProfit #PayrollGuide https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/its-about-payroll itsaboutpayroll.io https://youtu.be/Y88aNvzTXG4
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    36 mins