It's About Payroll

It's About Payroll

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-477051187

Episodes

$80K Payroll Theft: How a New Jersey City Employee Got Caught (+ Our Book Launch!)

March 9, 2026 • 32 mins
🎙️ 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 payr...
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Belonging Isn’t Soft, It’s Measurable

March 3, 2026 • 57 mins
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,...
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Hayley Paterson: Why Payroll Is Your Secret Profit Generator

February 23, 2026 • 36 mins
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...
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One Question Changed Everything! Terrence Wright

February 15, 2026 • 61 mins
Episode 196 of It’s About Payroll features Terrence Wright, founder of Wright People Solutions and a people-first HR leader with 20+ years of experience, including leadership roles supporting global brands like Google, Synchrony, and GE Capital. Terrence shares his origin story starting as a fifth-grade teacher until a parent challenged him with a simple question: “What are you doing here?” which pushed him to pivot into HR. The c...
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Jennie Wallace Reveals the Silent Risks Lurking in Your Payroll Data & Process

February 9, 2026 • 55 mins
Payroll isn't just about cutting checks—it's one of the riskiest areas in your organization. In this episode, we sit down with Jennie Wallace, CPA, CISA, CGMA, and founder of Melody Advisory Services, to uncover the hidden risks that could land you in serious trouble. Jennie shares real stories of payroll chaos, from reports with mismatched headcounts to the dangers of under-resourced teams managing highly regulated processes. Lea...
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Section 125 Isn’t New… So Why Are So Few Using It Like This?

February 2, 2026 • 47 mins
In Episode 194 of It's About Payroll, hosts Brian and Walt welcome two guests Brian Smith Jr and Eric Boling for a “two for the price of one” conversation focused on payroll-driven savings and employee support. The discussion centers on a payroll-integrated strategy built on a Section 125 plan (a long-standing tax provision) that can increase employee take-home pay while creating savings for employers without adding net cost. Gues...
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The Future of Benefits: Smarter Systems & Better Humans w/ Melissa Walker

January 26, 2026 • 59 mins
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...
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Season 15 in Review an a bonus payroll true crime tangent

January 19, 2026 • 43 mins
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, Fl...
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The Death of Payroll Cutoff Times: Payroll in Minutes, Not Days!

January 12, 2026 • 46 mins
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 loo...
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Payroll’s Next Generation: Finding Your Tribe & Thriving with Jon Schausten

January 5, 2026 • 57 mins
Join us for an insightful conversation with payroll industry expert Jon Schausten, CPP, as we dive into the evolving world of payroll. 🔑 In this episode, we tackle the big questions: * What happens as seasoned payrollers age out? * How do you find your payroll tribe as a newer payroll pro? * What does it take to truly succeed in this ever-changing industry? Whether you’re a payroll veteran, just starting out, or looki...
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10 Payroll Disasters—and How to FIX Them Before They Cost You $$$

December 21, 2025 • 47 mins
In this holiday-themed episode of It’s About Payroll, hosts Brian and Walt dive into common payroll challenges and real-world solutions—all while sprinkling in humor, seasonal cheer, and industry insights. They kick things off with a discussion on automating manual processes, noting that many organizations still rely on spreadsheets, paper timesheets, and even fax machines. The conversation shifts to the importance of system integ...
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True Payroll Crime Stories - Inside Job: The $17 Million Vault Caper

December 15, 2025 • 53 mins
This week, we explore the incredible true story of David Ghantt, a trusted vault supervisor at Loomis Fargo & Co. who masterminded a $17.3 million inside job in 1997. With the help of former co-worker Kelly Campbell and a crew of unlikely accomplices, Ghantt pulled off one of the largest cash thefts in U.S. history. Discover how a model employee became the architect of a legendary heist, the role of personal relationships in the...
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Payroll Cowboys: Wrangling W-2s, Taxes & Year-End Chaos

December 7, 2025 • 58 mins
In this cowboy-themed year-end special of It’s About Payroll, Brian and Walter saddle up to ride through the biggest payroll updates every pro must prepare for as 2025 closes and 2026 approaches. They kick off with news around the economy — including U.S. foreclosure filings rising nearly 20% year-over-year and property insurance premiums spiking 70% over five years — highlighting why accurate payroll matters more than ever to empl...
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Holiday Mashup: Payroll, Pay Cycles & Pie

December 1, 2025 • 60 mins
🎙️ Welcome to a special holiday mashup episode of "It's About Payroll"! 🎉 In this episode, your hosts dive into a festive mix of payroll hot topics and holiday fun. We break down the real impact of off-cycle payrolls—are they a customer service win or a business headache? We debate whether payroll should stand alone as its own department and if it deserves a seat in the C-suite. Plus, we explore the pros and cons of Earned Wag...
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Why All Roads Lead to Payroll and Workday Knows It

November 23, 2025 • 49 mins
In this episode of It’s About Payroll, Brian and Walt sit down with Trista Yerkich-Faul, an 18-year Certified Payroll Professional and former Workday HCM consultant with deep expertise bridging payroll operations and HR technology . Trista breaks down one of the industry’s biggest misconceptions: that Workday is only for large enterprises. She explains how Workday Go, a streamlined deployment methodology, now enables small and mids...
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Paychecks, Purpose, and Plant-Based Living with Tabitha Brown

November 17, 2025 • 43 mins
Welcome to a special reposting of Episode 89! In this inspiring conversation, we sit down with the incredible Tabitha Brown—America’s mom, actress, author, and social media sensation. Tabitha shares her journey from humble beginnings in Eden, North Carolina, to becoming a beacon of positivity, wellness, and authenticity for millions. In this episode, Tabitha opens up about: - The importance of trust and transparency in bu...
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From Chaos to Control: Lessons from a Payroll Powerhouse

November 9, 2025 • 49 mins
In this episode of It’s About Payroll, hosts Brian Escobar and Walter Duncan sit down with industry powerhouse Jenny Lee, a seasoned payroll and HCM expert known for driving transformation through process optimization and collaboration. Jenny shares her journey from hands-on practitioner to strategic leader, revealing what truly makes a payroll implementation succeed—or fail. From the debate between best-in-breed vs. all-in-one sy...
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Redefining How the World Gets Paid: Aron Alexander of Runa

November 3, 2025 • 36 mins
Join us for an inspiring episode of "It's About Payroll" as we sit down with Aron Alexander, founder and CEO of Runa, the company reimagining how money moves across the globe. Discover how Aron’s journey from helping out in his family’s retail business led to building one of the most innovative payment infrastructures in the world. In this episode, we dive into: The evolution of Runa from WeGift and the power of rebranding H...
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Payroll Under Pressure: Lessons from Season 14’s Powerhouse Guests

October 26, 2025 • 59 mins
In this Season 14 Review of It’s About Payroll, hosts Brian Escobar and Walter Duncan reflect on one of their most dynamic seasons yet—packed with powerhouse guests, innovation talk, and real-world payroll insights. They open by reframing mindset and language, stressing how positivity and intentional speech shape success. The duo then dives into financial fitness for payroll pros, revealing practical ways to cut costs—like reducing...
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Payroll with Purpose: Attracting the Next Generation

October 20, 2025 • 47 mins
Join us for an inspiring episode of "It's About Payroll" as we sit down with Troy Markusson, a seasoned payroll leader and mentor, to discuss the future of payroll and how to attract the next generation of professionals to this essential field. In this episode, Troy shares his journey from college intern to payroll innovator, his passion for making payroll "cool," and the importance of purpose, compassion, and curiosity in build...
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