THRIVE, a Paychex Business Podcast

Hosted by Paychex, Inc.

Business Entrepreneurship

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540

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Designed for those who crave the inside scoop on everything from people to policy to profits, each THRIVE episode transforms complex business and HR topics into clear, actionable advice. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or an aspiring leader, this podcast is your go-to source for cutting through the noise and gaining a competitive advantage.

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60 recent

September 3, 2026Episode 5011 min

SBA Redefining ‘Small’, U.S.-Canada Trade Dispute Widens, AI Sticker Shock

As if small businesses didn’t have enough daily challenges, now the federal agency that’s supposed to have their back is redefining what it is to be small. The SBA proposes granting large conglomerates eligibility to compete for the same small business funding pot and resources. Host Gene Marks says such a move will create additional barriers. From barriers to borders, the Canada-U.S. trade standoff has the two lobbing massive percentage spikes on top of imported goods, so Gene offers a few workarounds. In AI news, Google sees prices for tech becoming cost-prohibitive so it proposed a pay-as-you-go plan, which Gene says could work but owners should do a cost analysis. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:57 – SBA Plans to Redefine Small Business 03:56 – U.S.-Canada Trade Dispute 07:32 – Google Proposes Pay-As-You-Go AI Plan 10:29– Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Mid-Year Check-In: https://bit.ly/midyear-compliance-checklist DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

August 27, 2026Episode 4912 min

Impact of $40T in U.S. Debt, Tips to Avoid Scammers, Get AI Workplace Training

The amount of U.S. debt has reached the unfathomable, and at $40-trillion-plus, federal government is left with little choice but to print money. Host Gene Marks says this isn’t unusual, but the inflationary pressures will affect businesses trying to get loans. He offers some suggestions in this episode, as well as tips on how owners can combat intricate and technically adept phone scams. In AI news, Claude has become more intertwined in our workplace communications, so Gene says training all the workers at is worth it in the long run. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 01:02 – Impact of U.S. Debt 05:26 – Combatting Phone Scammers 07:36 – Workplace AI Training 10:47– Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Summer Planning Guide: https://bit.ly/summer-planning-guide DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

August 25, 2026Episode 4833 min

Google's Mike Clark on What AI Agents Can Do for Small Business (and How to Get Started)

AI has moved beyond chatbots. The next wave is agents, and they're already reshaping how small businesses operate. In this episode, Gene Marks talks with Google's Mike Clark, Director of Product Management, Agent Platform at Google Cloud, about what AI agents actually are and how to put them to work. They cover the shift from generative AI to agents, why your website needs to be ready for the agentic web, real use cases from deep research to inventory reordering, and how to build trust with AI as you scale. Want to start experimenting like Mike suggests? Grab our free AI & Automation Toolkit to find your biggest automation opportunity: https://bit.ly/4yaSarA Simplify your business operations. Learn how Paychex can handle your HR and payroll so you can focus on what counts: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Have a topic idea? Share it at https://payx.me/thrivetopics Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and guest introduction 01:12 – Meet Mike Clark 04:02 – What is an AI agent? 07:32 – The agentic web and why websites must change 14:10 – Overview of the Google Cloud agent platform 18:32 – Small business agent use cases 23:15 – Can you trust agents with critical decisions? 26:35 – Privacy concerns and choosing your AI platform & ecosystem 31:00 – Final advice to small businesses 32:13 – Wrap up and thank you #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartRadio #ApplePodcastTips #SpotifyPodcasts DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

August 20, 2026Episode 4711 min

What’s Behind Optimism? Age Limits or Discrimination? AI Equals More Work?

The National Federation of Independent Businesses’ monthly survey results show good news on the optimism front: the index reached its highest level in more than a year, the percentage of those expecting to create jobs is the highest since 2022, and worries about inflation are down seven points. Host Gene Marks also talks about the unique age-limit approach a restaurant has taken while noting that discrimination could become an issue, while in AI news, employers keep saying less work is coming for employers while a survey shows the latter’s workweek hours increasing. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 01:07 – Small Business Optimism 03:43 – Restaurant Age Limit 06:40 – AI and Workload 09:47– Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Summer Planning Guide: https://bit.ly/summer-planning-guide DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

August 13, 2026Episode 4610 min

Resilient Labor Market, Tax Penalty Relief, Surge in Agentic AI Use in Shopping

Despite economic uncertainty, the U.S. labor market stays stable, which includes a 3.14% growth – the highest increase in five years – in weekly hours worked. Host Gene Marks shares more real-time data from the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch and says employers can find labor but it won’t be inexpensive. Eligible small businesses get a boost if they’ve been compliant in their tax payment history with automatic exemption from penalty program from the IRS. In AI news, a 200% increase in agentic AI use in online shopping has Gene signaling to employers that they should ensure their websites are agent-ready or risk losing customers. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:19 – Small Business Employment Watch 03:20 – IRS Tax Relief Program 05:45 – Agentic AI Use in Shopping 08:38– Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Summer Planning Guide: https://bit.ly/summer-planning-guide DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

August 11, 2026Episode 4534 min

Kevin Hassett on AI, Tariffs, and Small Business Growth

Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council and top economic advisor in the White House, joins host Gene Marks to break down what today's economy means for small businesses. They explore why companies using AI saw dramatic revenue growth over the past year, how economists read government data alongside private-sector indicators (like the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch), and why jobs and GDP numbers get revised so often. Kevin also shares practical ways owners can use AI to compete with larger firms, plus a few offbeat economic indicators worth watching. Explore the latest hiring and wage trends in the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch: https://bit.ly/4q4htI8 Simplify your business operations. Learn how Paychex can handle your HR and payroll so you can focus on what counts: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Have a topic idea? Share it at https://payx.me/thrivetopics Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and guest introduction 01:16 – Kevin’s background and path to the White House 03:27 – Tariffs and the economy 09:12 – Using government data vs. private-sector data 15:12 – Why government numbers get revised 17:22 – The underreported positive: Side gigs & extra income 20:00 – AI as a small business game changer 25:04 - Why AI hasn’t replaced humans 28:08 – Offbeat economic indicators 33:06 – Wrap up and thank you #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartRadio #ApplePodcastTips #SpotifyPodcasts DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

August 6, 2026Episode 4411 min

Experts Eye Increased Hiring in 2026, Expect More I-9 Enforcement, AI Assists Restaurants

Hiring managers forecast that more permanent jobs will be added in the second half of 2026. Gene Marks shares a report that 63% surveyed said that too many projects are being delayed because of staffing shortages. A legal firm is signaling that I-9 enforcement could increase and recommends that employers prepare by conducting an audit. In AI news, Yelp Host is expanding its phone assistant to include food ordering. The call volume has grown 38% month-over-month, which is helping small restaurants. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:19 – More Hiring Forecast in 2026 03:50 – Increased I-9 Enforcement Expected 06:49 – Yelp Host AI Phone Assistant Serves Restaurants 09:38– Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

July 30, 2026Episode 4311 min

More Taxes on Imports, Job Lock for Health Insurance, ChatGPT Training for SMBs

Just when you thought it was safe to expand your budget and return to importing more products and goods from other countries, a change in policy will leave many businesses paying higher taxes to do so. Host Gene Marks says, unfortunately, the cost of this policy change will fall to customers already battling higher prices because of inflation. He offers a few tips for businesses that might help. Employers also are facing employees stuck in job lock – those staying for health insurance coverage despite not liking their job. Gene says there are several ways to approach this, plus he shares news about the latest tech giant sponsoring AI training for small businesses. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:18 – Higher Import Taxes Expected 05:03 – Healthcare Needs Increases Job lock 07:35 – Access AI Training Through ChatGPT 09:50 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

July 28, 2026Episode 4233 min

Entrepreneur’s Jason Feifer: Practical AI Strategies for Busy Business Owners

AI is reshaping how small businesses work, but knowing where to begin is the hard part. Entrepreneur Editor-in-Chief Jason Feifer joins Gene Marks for a practical conversation about where AI delivers real value. Learn why AI is “normal technology,” the real reason small businesses haven’t adopted it yet, and how to find the simple, high-value wins that deliver real ROI. Plus, why the smartest place to start isn’t the tech at all, it’s fixing what’s already broken in your business. Want more from Jason? Subscribe to his newsletter, One Thing Better, for one weekly way to build a career and company you love: https://bit.ly/3RTMlyx Our free AI & Automation Toolkit will help you find your first AI use case in just five minutes: https://bit.ly/4yaSarA Simplify your business operations. Learn how Paychex can handle your HR and payroll so you can focus on what counts: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Have a topic idea? Share it at https://payx.me/thrivetopics Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and guest introduction 02:00 – What’s really happening with AI in small business 06:40 – AI as “normal technology” & early adoption patterns 08:40 – The microwave oven analogy for AI 12:33 – Practical AI use cases 16:09 – AI breaking what’s already broken 18:00 – An AI ROI story: Window & door company: 19:29 – “Stop doing what people hate” 23:16 – Data privacy concerns 27:50 – Jason’s $10M business idea 31:51 – Wrap up and thank you #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartRadio #ApplePodcastTips #SpotifyPodcasts DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

July 23, 2026Episode 4111 min

Boomerang Employees, Retirement Advice, AI Accelerates Freelancer Status

More than one-third of new hires in March were boomerang employees. Host Gene Marks explains why people are returning to their former places of work, and the value employers gain from the experience. Gene also points out the benefit of educating and guiding employees on their retirement options, which a survey found is an expectation from the current workforce. Options include offering planning sessions and hiring financial planning consultants. In AI news, Upwork’s Future Workforce Index shows that AI is accelerating the shift toward highly skilled freelancers. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:18 – Boomerang Employees 04:08 – Seeking Retirement Guidance 07:08 – AI Accelerates Freelancer Value 09:55 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Workplace retirement plans: https://bit.ly/workplace-retirement-plan Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.