Friends with Benefits
Friends with Benefits
Podcast Description
‘Friends with Benefits’ is the essential podcast for rewards and benefits leaders.
Hosted by Carl Chapman and David Duckworth from Ben, each episode brings together top minds in benefits and HR to unpack the latest trends shaping the world of benefits. Think AI, employee engagement, ROI, and more. Expect real talk with industry innovators and bold ideas you’ll want to steal.
If you’re building better benefits, this is the podcast your CPO wishes you’d listen to.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on the complexities of employee benefits, covering themes such as the integration of AI in HR, employee engagement strategies, and the return on investment of benefit programs. Episodes include discussions on topics like mental health investment, the impact of global equity on benefits, and practical strategies for creating personalized benefits offerings.
‘Friends with Benefits’ is the essential podcast for rewards and benefits leaders.
Hosted by Carl Chapman and David Duckworth from Ben, each episode brings together top minds in benefits and HR to unpack the latest trends shaping the world of benefits. Think AI, employee engagement, ROI, and more. Expect real talk with industry innovators and bold ideas you’ll want to steal.
If you’re building better benefits, this is the podcast your CPO wishes you’d listen to.
Our festive episode reflecting on the first year of the Friends with Benefits podcast — plus Santa drops by with the world’s biggest benefit wishes.
In this Christmas Special, Carl and David look back on a standout first year for the Friends with Benefits podcast — from launching the format to hosting guests who challenged conventional thinking in reward and benefits.
The conversation covers reflections on standout episodes, why passion-led discussions matter more than scripted topics, and what themes are likely to dominate 2026. A surprise appearance from Santa (Seb) introduces a series of benefit “wishes” submitted by consultants, reward leaders, and managers — sparking honest discussion around AI, inclusion, pay transparency, engagement, and global complexity.
The episode closes with a look ahead to what’s shaping up to be a big year for benefits.
00:00 — Intro
00:39 — Reflecting on a Big First Year
01:00 — Why the Podcast Matters
01:41 — Letting Guests Talk About What They Care About
02:00 — A Standout Moment: Josephina from British Airways
02:34 — Purposeful Communication Over Noise
03:00 — Why Passion Creates Better Conversations
06:00 — Inclusion and Choice in Benefits
07:00 — Pay Transparency Is Coming (Whether You Like It or Not)
08:17 — Rethinking ‘Engagement’ in Benefits
09:19 — Global Complexity Isn’t Going Away
11:05 — Looking Ahead to 2026
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
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