Ben raises $27.5m to fix employee benefits for global enterprises
Resources
“Friends with Benefits” podcast
Episode 11

The Christmas Special: Reflections, Wishes, and the Future of Employee Benefits

What happens when a global reward leader redefines the purpose of financial wellbeing — and argues that mindset may matter more than tools?
Listen on
Apple Podcasts
Listen on
Spotify
Listen on
YouTube

About the guest

,

Summary

{spacer-24}

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 About02:00 — 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 Benefits07:00 — 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

Copy link

Turn into the next episodes

Stay ahead of the curve with expert insights
Episode 
10

The One With Josephina from British Airways: Why Financial Empowerment Beats Financial Wellbeing

What happens when a global reward leader redefines the purpose of financial wellbeing — and argues that mindset may matter more than tools?
Episode 
9

The One With Tony from Aristocrat: What 40 Years in Reward Reveals About Employee Benefits

What happens when one of the earliest flexible-benefits pioneers looks at the industry today — and realises many of the same issues still haven’t been fixed?