THRIVE, a Paychex Business Podcast

Hosted by Paychex, Inc.

Business Entrepreneurship

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525

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Jun 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

July 2, 2026Episode 3710 min

Spending and Inflation, Procurement Expenses, Impatience with AI Service Bots

Americans seem undeterred by inflation hovering at 3.4%, as the personal consumption expenditures index rose 0.7% in May and is up 4.1% year over year. This could trigger raising interest rates, although host Gene Marks says a rate increase would be manageable. Gene also looks at Walmart Business uncovering the hidden costs of procurement, and what 60% of people dealing with AI-powered customer service bots say they do when faced with that situation. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:19 – Consumer Spending and Inflation 04:15 – Hidden Costs of Procurement 06:07 – Response to AI Customer Service 08:56 – 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.

June 30, 2026Episode 3637 min

Celebrity Interior Designer Nate Berkus: Hiring, Hard Clients, and Knowing What You’re Bad At

At 24, Nate Berkus launched an interior design firm with no business plan and a whole lot of nerve. Thirty years later? Offices in three cities, 50 employees, and a spot among the most recognizable names in design. The celebrity designer joins host Gene Marks on Paychex THRIVE to get real about hiring, handling difficult clients, and why admitting what you're bad at is where real business growth starts. Plus, the advice from his father that changed everything. 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 01:21 – Nate’s path into design 05:27 – Running a 50-person firm across three cities 09:42 – Which projects Nate still gets personally involved in 11:57 – Why his firm still grounds him after fame 16:10 – Dealing with difficult clients and when to say no 19:33 – Handling problems: accountability and ownership 23:05 – Nate’s hiring wake-up call 25:01 – How Nate keeps great employees 28:10 – Starting a business at 24 32:41 – Walking through doors & staying in the room 36:27 – 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.

June 25, 2026Episode 359 min

Business Applications Up 3.7%, Cascading Healthcare Costs, AI Resource Credits

Entrepreneurs continue to make a go of it despite current economic uncertainty, with business applications increasing 3.7% in May. Host Gene Marks says with access to new markets and inexpensive technology, there’s never been a better time to own a business. The news isn’t all rosy, as rising healthcare costs point to a potential trickle down to employees in 2027, but Gene shares a few strategies to offset. In AI news, a partnership with Perplexity is creating opportunities for some SBA loan recipients to get credit to afford resources to help with AI training. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 01:03 – Rise in Business Applications 03:36 – Shifting Healthcare Costs 06:20 – AI Credits Through SBA partnership 08:21 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Register for AI webinar: https://bit.ly/ai-webinar-series 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.

June 18, 2026Episode 3410 min

Appeals Could Hurt Refunds, Policies Limiting Contractors, AI and ROI

Businesses that got in on the front end of requesting refunds for illegal tariffs are better off than those applying now. Why? As host Gene Marks explains, the federal government filed an appeal that could make it more difficult. Additionally, certain contractors, including women- and veteran-owned ones, are finding opportunities to land government contracts reduced, according to a report that shows a reduction of $47 billion in investment. In AI news, a survey indicates that despite a savings in time created by using AI at work, employers need to audit the ROI. Listen to the podcast to learn more. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 01:05 – Tariff Refund Decision Appealed 04:00 – Funding Cuts Hurt Some Contractors 06:33 – Consider Auditing the ROI of Your AI 09:24 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Register for AI webinar: https://bit.ly/ai-webinar-series 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.

June 16, 2026Episode 3327 min

Scoring New Fans for Your Business During the World Cup

Every town has its big moment. A global tournament, a hometown festival, a parade that fills the streets. The question is whether your business is ready to grab it. Meg Kane, the host city executive behind Philadelphia's World Cup effort, joins Gene Marks with a practical playbook any business can run, anywhere. She shares how to lean into the energy, connect with the crowd, and land on vendor lists that organizers call again and again. The spotlight is coming to your town eventually. Here's how to make the most of it when it does. Take the conversation further with The 39-Day World Cup Playbook. Your guide to staffing smart, managing overtime, and protecting your margins from kickoff to the final whistle: https://bit.ly/48Dpah4 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 – Meg’s background: Philly, PR & the road to World Cup 2026 04:30 – What a host city executive does 06:38 – Public–private partnership behind the tournament 08:16 – What makes Philadelphia unique as a host city 11:06 – How small businesses can leverage big events 13:21 – Supporting your national team as a marketing asset 17:31 – Connecting directly with fans & federations 20:36 – Real-world examples: Vendors doing it right 23:11 – Using any major event calendar as a growth strategy 27:06 – 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.

June 11, 2026Episode 3210 min

Positive Jobs Data from Paychex, JOLTS Hints at Divide, State AI Laws Are Key

How’s the labor market? Depends on who you ask. Host Gene Marks highlights that in this week’s episode, pointing to the steady increase in job growth the past three months reported by the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch and the massive job gains released by the U.S. Department of Labor. Same? Gene says Paychex uses real-time data and the government’s report will be revised because it is based on surveys. The episode also looks at the divide concerning jobs, according to the JOLTS report, and why some experts are suggesting businesses pay attention to state AI laws while the federal government tries to find its way on the subject. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 01:14 – Jobs and Wage Data From Paychex 02:55 – JOLTS Report Shows Hiring Divide 05:55 – Focus on State AI Laws 09:11 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Employment Watch: https://bit.ly/paychex-sbew Register for AI webinar: https://bit.ly/ai-webinar-series Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs

June 4, 2026Episode 318 min

Optimism Wanes but SMB Health Solid, Burnout on Rise, States Step Up AI Laws

The construction sector takes the least of a hit on the National Federation of Independent Businesses’ Optimism Index, while retail suffers worst decline. Add that to a Glassdoor survey reporting that employee confidence is at record lows and burnout is on the rise, and it’s no wonder that owners rate the financial health of their small businesses at good to excellent. Wait, what? Host Gene Marks explains why this might be happening. There also are new AI laws in a handful of states creating additional compliance complexities, especially around AI-driven employment decisions and discrimination risks. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:19 – Optimism Declines Again 02:00 – Employee Confidence and Burnout 04:57 – State Step Up with AI Laws 06:43 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Register for AI webinar: https://bit.ly/ai-webinar-series 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.

June 2, 2026Episode 3027 min

Savannah Bananas Owner Jesse Cole: The $0 Marketing Strategy That Built a 35-Million-Follower Brand

Jesse Cole built the Savannah Bananas into a 35-million-follower brand without spending a single dollar on marketing. His secret? Stop marketing. Start creating experiences people can't stop talking about. In this episode, the founder of Fans First Entertainment joins host Gene Marks to share the business philosophy behind one of the most unconventional success stories in sports. From how he hires to how he thinks about growth, Jesse's approach to business is as unorthodox as his team’s on-field antics. 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 01:13 – The mind behind the Savannah Bananas 05:13 – Why Jesse doesn't believe in work-life balance 06:44 – Working with your spouse 08:52 – The secret to a 15,000-person hiring waitlist 14:26 – Who inspires Jesse 17:05 – The importance of controlling the experience 20:35 – How the Savannah Bananas spend $0 on marketing 24:05 – Building something that outlasts you 26:21 – 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.

May 28, 2026Episode 299 min

Profitability Falls 1.3%, Employees Expect Financial Guidance, AI Drives B2B Growth

Small businesses always have challenges, but these days none is more damaging than the costs of doing business jacked up by inflation. Gene Marks, a small business owner himself, shares a few tips on how to manage the situation against the year-over-year profitability plunge of 1.3%. Financial pressures are hitting many, and a report found that 90% of employees would leave and seek out a company offering financial wellness resources as part of a benefits package. On a good note, some startups are using AI to solve practical business problems in the B2B space and drive growth. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:19 – Profitability Issues 03:34 – Financial Wellness Benefits 06:26 – Startups, AI, and Growth 08:25 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Small business and AI: https://bit.ly/ai-and-small-biz Register for AI webinar: https://bit.ly/ai-webinar-series 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.

May 21, 2026Episode 2810 min

Producer Price Index Worrisome, World Cup Pitch on Tipping, Claude SMB Training

A sharp spike up to 6% for the Producer Price Index has podcast host Gene Marks expressing concern over the pending price hikes for goods for the remainder of 2026. He offers some suggestions to help employers and their employees. As the World Cup soccer tournament nears its start in North America, one U.S. host city’s restaurant group is proposing a mandatory tip percentage so staff don’t get stiffed by visitors from non-tipping cultures. And Anthropic launches Claude for Small Business, which Gene notes is a great way to help implement AI. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:51 – Producer Price Index Spikes 03:50 – Tipping Proposal for World Cup Events 06:48 – AI Training by Claude for Small Business 09:24 – 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.