Instant Payments

Tal Clark

The Instant Payments Podcast is your go-to source for conversations at the intersection of innovation, payroll, and financial wellness. Hosted by payments industry veteran Tal Clark, the show explores how real-time disbursements, earned wage access, digital tipping, and modern payment technology are reshaping the way America gets paid. Each episode features thought leaders, operators, and innovators who are advancing how workers access and manage their money. Whether you're a business leader, payroll provider, or fintech pro, this show delivers valuable perspectives on the future of payments.

  1. APR 29

    S2 Ep 01 Part 1: Randstad CFO Ben Elliott on the Importance of Paying 70,000 Employees on Time

    Host Tal Clark, CEO of Instant Financial, opens season two of the Instant Payments Podcast with guest Ben Elliott, U.S. CFO of Randstad, who leads the North America Financial Shared Services organization supporting $6B in operations. Ben explains how Randstad serves employers with flexible access to workers across industries and helps talent access jobs, skills, and reliable pay, noting Randstad puts 300,000+ people to work daily globally and 70,000+ in North America, split roughly 50/50 between commercial and professional staffing. He describes Randstad’s complex payroll operations across 40+ states, tracking timecards in near real time, running three weekly payroll cycles, and targeting accuracy. Ben discusses why Randstad implemented earned wage access with Instant in 2021, citing technology maturity, competitive demand, operational controls, and ease of enrollment. 00:00 Welcome to Season Two 00:45 Meet Ben Elliott 02:22 What Randstad Does 04:14 Randstad Scale and Staffing Mix 05:27 Ben’s Career Journey 07:49 Payroll Complexity and Systems 10:18 Payroll Cycles and Tracking 11:46 Defining Payroll Success 14:04 Why Earned Wage Access 16:47 Wrap Up and Where to Follow Instant Financial: instant.co Randstad: https://www.randstadusa.com/ Connect with Tal Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tal-clark-a60776b/ Connect with Ben Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-elliott-0586202

    18 min

  2. MAR 18

    Ep 10 Part 2: How Instant Tipping and Wage Access Helps with Retention at Sun Holdings

    Tal Clark hosts part two of the Instant Payments Podcast with Laura McLand, VP of HR at Sun Holdings, a major U.S. restaurant group with 30,000+ employees, discussing HR trends including earned wage access and digital tipping. Laura says fast, fee-free access to tips improves satisfaction, and notes the shift from physical pay cards to mobile payments. She describes Sun Holdings’ efforts to position restaurant work as a career path, reporting retention improved by 20% over the last two years due to instant payments and greater employee engagement. She explains piloting new programs with one brand before scaling, outlines ROI-driven internal buy-in, and shares how AI is being used in recruiting and new payroll software for faster information retrieval. 00:00 Welcome Back to Laura 00:35 Instant Tips Impact 01:45 Beyond Plastic Cards 03:25 Turnover and Retention 05:39 Employee Engagement Focus in 2026 07:05 Rolling Out Instant Pay 08:45 Selling Value of Instant Payments To Execs 11:09 AI In HR Operations 13:19 Rapid Fire Q&A 15:51 Closing And Thanks Instant Financial: instant.co Sun Holdings: sunholdings.net Connect with Tal Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tal-clark-a60776b/ Connect with Laura McLand: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-mcland/

    16 min

  3. MAR 4

    Ep 10 Part 1: Earned Wage Access and Digital Tips at Scale for Sun Holdings’ 30,000+ Employees

    Host Tal Clark interviews Laura McLand, VP of HR at Sun Holdings, a franchise operator with 1,250+ locations across 32 states, 13 brands, and 30,000+ employees. Laura describes moving into HR through payroll, then joining Sun Holdings to unify previously fragmented HR, payroll, and benefits teams and improve speed and consistency of employee support. She explains how payroll is organized by brand type with shared resources for similar brands. Tal and Laura discuss Sun Holdings’ use of Instant Financial since 2021 for digital tips and earned wage access, and emphasize immediacy and mobile, 24/7 access as key to employee financial wellness. This episode is a great conversation around how one of the country’s largest restaurant groups prioritizes financial access. 00:00 Introducing Today’s Guest, Laura McLand 01:38 Laura’s Career Path: From First Payroll Role to HR Leadership 03:35 Joining Sun Holdings: Fixing a Fragmented HR/Payroll/Benefits Org 05:02 Managing 13 Brands at Scale 06:40 What Makes Sun Holdings Special 07:59 Supporting 30,000 Employees 10:00 Modern Pay in Action: Digital Tips + Earned Wage Access 12:25 Meeting Employees on with 24/7 Tools 14:49 What’s Next and Wrap-Up Instant Financial: instant.co Sun Holdings: sunholdings.net Connect with Tal Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tal-clark-a60776b/ Connect with Laura McLand: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-mcland/

    17 min

  4. FEB 18

    Ep 09 Part 2: The importance of both instant pay and tips for Cotton Patch Café

    In this episode of the Instant Payments Podcast, host Tal Clark, CEO of Instant Financial, continues the discussion with Stephanie Callihan, CFO of Cotton Patch Cafe, about the transformative impact of instant digital payments in the restaurant industry. Stephanie shares insights on how Cotton Patch's adoption of Instant Pay for both tips and wages has significantly boosted employee satisfaction, reduced turnover, and streamlined payroll processes. They explore the benefits of providing daily access to earnings and discuss how this system supports career advancement within the company. Additionally, Stephanie reveals her personal passion for equestrian sports and forecasts technology trends that could shape the future of restaurant operations. The episode concludes with a look at 2026 growth for Cotton Patch Cafe. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:26 Digital Tips and Employee Satisfaction 02:22 Transition to Instant Pay 07:07 Regulatory Landscape and Earned Wage Access 11:44 Future of Restaurant Technology 14:38 Stephanie's Equestrian Passion 17:42 Rapid Fire Questions 20:07 Conclusion and Farewell Instant Financial: instant.co Cotton Patch Cafe: https://cottonpatch.com/ Connect with Tal Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tal-clark-a60776b/ Connect with Stephanie Callihan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniecallihan/

    21 min

  5. FEB 4

    Ep 09 Part 1: Managing Instant Pay While Scaling Operations with Stephanie Callihan of Cotton Patch Café

    In this episode of the Instant Payments Podcast, host Tal Clark talks with Stephanie Callihan, finance leader at Cotton Patch Café, about navigating payroll, compliance, and retention in a large hourly workforce. Stephanie shares her career path through restaurant finance, Cotton Patch’s people-first culture, and how digital tipping helped the brand preserve daily pay while reducing operational risk. The conversation highlights why listening to employees, simplifying manager workflows, and modernizing pay systems are critical to retention and guest experience. 00:00 Welcome and Stephanie’s career journey in restaurant finance 03:28 Cotton Patch Café culture, awards, and growth focus 06:31 Payroll compliance and the realities of an hourly workforce 09:05 Retention strategies and strengthening management coverage 12:03 The decline of cash and the challenge of daily tip payouts 14:30 Preserving daily pay through digital tipping 17:01 Operational efficiency, security, and auditing benefits Instant Financial: instant.co Cotton Patch Cafe: https://cottonpatch.com/ Connect with Tal Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tal-clark-a60776b/ Connect with Stephanie Callihan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniecallihan/

    20 min

  6. JAN 20

    BONUS Ep 08: Breaking Down the CFPB's New Advisory Opinion on Earned Wage Access

    In this bonus episode of the Instant Payments Podcast, host Tal Clark, CEO of Instant Financial, and Heather Heebner, head of compliance at Instant Financial, discuss the CFPB advisory opinion released December 23, 2025. The conversation delves into the current regulatory environment of earned wage access (EWA) at both the federal and state levels, the history of advisory opinions from the CFPB, and the implications for employers and EWA providers. They also explore how this new ruling affects compliance, the differences between previous advisory opinions and the current one, and what it means for the overall industry. The episode provides valuable insights for employers considering offering EWA as a benefit to their employees. 00:00 Welcome to the Instant Payments Podcast 00:33 Introducing Heather Heebner and Today's Topic 01:02 Understanding Earned Wage Access (EWA) 03:18 The CFPB's Advisory Opinions on EWA 08:44 Implications for Employers and Providers 10:40 State-Level Legislation and Its Impact 13:56 Final Thoughts and Industry Outlook 16:49 Conclusion and Contact Information CFPB Advisory Opinion: https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_earned-wage-access-advisory-opinion_2025-12.pdf Instant Financial: instant.co Connect with Tal Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tal-clark-a60776b/ Connect with Heather Heebner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-heebner-8b59615/ Get in touch with Instant: marketing@instant.co

    17 min

  7. 12/10/2025

    Ep 07 Part 2: More HR Trends with Britt Landrum: AI, Benefits, and Personal Passions

    In this episode of the Instant Payments podcast, host Tal Clark, CEO of Instant Financial, continues the conversation with Britt Landrum, CEO of Landrum, Inc. They discuss the impact of AI on staffing, including Landrum's AI, 'Abby,' for recruiting. The conversation extends to the evaluation of tools like payroll cards and earned wage access for worker impact and business ROI. Britt touches on Landrum, Inc.'s industry reach, recent acquisitions, and new office openings. The discussion also delves into Britt's personal interests, including his journey in music and triathlons, and the integration of physical and mental health. Britt shares advice for HR and business leaders about being adaptable and flexible, emphasizing the importance of communication and creativity. The episode concludes with rapid-fire questions about Britt's recommendations and future expectations for AI and automation in HR. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:26 Impact of AI on Staffing 01:56 Evaluating Payroll Solutions 03:27 Industries Served by Landrum 05:10 Expansion and Acquisitions 08:02 Musical Talents and Early Influences 14:09 Triathlon Journey and Fitness 20:10 Advice for HR and Business Leaders 23:07 Rapid Fire Questions and Conclusion Instant Financial: instant.co Landrum, Inc: https://landruminc.com/  Connect with Tal Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tal-clark-a60776b/  Connect with Britt Landrum: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittlandrum/ Pensacola Business Community: https://www.pensacolachamber.com/

    26 min

  8. 11/26/2025

    Ep 07 Part 1: Navigating Growth in the Staffing and PEO Industry with the CEO of Landrum, Inc.

    In this episode of the Instant Payments podcast, host Tal Clark, CEO of Instant Financial, interviews Britt Landrum, CEO of Landrum, Inc — two companies based in Pensacola, Fla. Britt shares insights on the history of his family staffing and PEO business, the technological advancements in staffing and HR, and the importance of earned wage access for hourly workers. They explore the impact of AI on employment, the adaptability required for future growth, and the significance of maintaining personal relationships and trust in business. Tune in to hear about Landrum's journey from a local staffing firm to a major player in the HR industry. 00:00 Introduction to the Instant Payments Podcast 00:35 Meet Britt Landrum: CEO of Landrum, Inc. 02:03 The History of Landrum, Inc. 07:25 Adapting and Thriving in the Staffing Industry 12:27 The Role of Technology in Modern HR 18:45 The Impact of AI on Employment 20:45 Conclusion and Future Discussions Instant Financial: instant.co Landrum, Inc: https://landruminc.com/ Connect with Tal Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tal-clark-a60776b/ Connect with Britt Landrum: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittlandrum/ Pensacola Business Community: https://www.pensacolachamber.com/

    21 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

The Instant Payments Podcast is your go-to source for conversations at the intersection of innovation, payroll, and financial wellness. Hosted by payments industry veteran Tal Clark, the show explores how real-time disbursements, earned wage access, digital tipping, and modern payment technology are reshaping the way America gets paid. Each episode features thought leaders, operators, and innovators who are advancing how workers access and manage their money. Whether you're a business leader, payroll provider, or fintech pro, this show delivers valuable perspectives on the future of payments.

Information

  • Creator
    Tal Clark
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Instant Payments
  • Show Website
    Instant Payments