Beyond Benefits

In every episode, we will discuss the trends and movements that are reshaping American health care and the employee benefits landscape, while highlighting benefits advisors and other industry thought leaders and companies who are working every day to improve the lives of employers and employees and to make a very flawed system a little better. We’ll cover topics ranging from benefits design and cost containment, to the impact of AI and technology, to regulation and compliance, practice management, and much more!

The Great American Healthcare Heist — With Chris Deacon 11/12/2025

The Great American Healthcare Heist — With Chris Deacon In this episode, we chat with Chris Deacon, Founder of VerSan Consulting, former New Jersey Deputy Attorney General, and author of “The Great American Healthcare Heist." Chris discusses her transition into the benefits world, going from being New Jersey’s deputy attorney general to running the New Jersey’s state health benefits program, to starting her own consulting firm that focuses on spreading awareness about health care issues. We also touch on her book, “The Great American Healthcare Heist” which aims to make readers question the financial motivations behind health care institutions. Finally, we look at the current state and the future outlook of the health care and benefits world. We finish the conversation with some great suggestions about where we should visit if we ever make it across the pond. /episode/index/show/4ee180ef-074b-4052-9979-cca6f3185679/id/39014310

A Patient Is A Patient — With Nurse Deb 10/15/2025

A Patient Is A Patient — With Nurse Deb In this episode, we talk to Deb Ault, better known as Nurse Deb, the president of AIMM. We discuss her dedication to change, both as a nurse and as a pioneer of disruption in the health care and benefits space. We also chat about the challenges of employers' and employees' slow acceptance of change, as well as the realities of working in a broken system. One of the biggest challenges Nurse Deb shares is that many employers are not yet upset enough with the status quo to demand something different: "Until people are pissed off, they're not going to change." But, don't worry, we also get to know Nurse Deb on a personal level. We chat about how she spends her free time, her most recent vacation, and some secret treasures in Columbus, Ohio! /episode/index/show/4ee180ef-074b-4052-9979-cca6f3185679/id/38598525

Would You Write Your Benefits Booklet With ChatGPT? — With Melissa Burkhart 10/01/2025

Would You Write Your Benefits Booklet With ChatGPT? — With Melissa Burkhart In this episode, we talk with Melissa Burkhart, founder and president of Futuro Solido USA. We discuss her work in the benefits translation space and discuss why creating establishing trust and creating connections with employees matters now, more than ever. She also offers lots of great tips and ideas about benefits communication as we head into open enrollment season! We also discuss her new partnership with NABIP and her work with the Coalition for Inclusion in Benefits and Insurance. And yes, as always, we go down a few rabbit trails, including the hidden connection between middle schoolers, grammar and anchovies, some liberal arts bonding, and a little rant about the vastly underrated food scene in Denver. /episode/index/show/4ee180ef-074b-4052-9979-cca6f3185679/id/38412065

AI: It's Not Sci-Fi Anymore — With Jason Beutler And Daniel Fuller 09/17/2025

AI: It's Not Sci-Fi Anymore — With Jason Beutler And Daniel Fuller In this episode, we talk about the many implications of AI, focusing especially on its potential impacts on the future of benefits and healthcare, as well as some practical advice for benefits advisors and others in the industry, based on how it’s being used right now by your peers. As always, we also go down some rabbit trails, including literal trails (and running on them), beach volleyball, Brandon Sanderson books and a recommendation for some of the best shrimp cocktails to ever exist. Oh, and Paul takes a shot at setting the record for the fastest Skynet reference in Robosource history. /episode/index/show/4ee180ef-074b-4052-9979-cca6f3185679/id/38253440

I Was Into Fiduciary Duty Before It Was Cool — With Jennifer Berman 09/03/2025

I Was Into Fiduciary Duty Before It Was Cool — With Jennifer Berman In this episode, we dive into the exciting (you read that right!) world of compliance, with Jennifer Spiegel Berman, compliance maven and chief legal officer at Lumelight. One of Jen’s superpowers is her ability to make complex and complicated topics compelling, urgent and understandable. During our conversation, she shares some of her secrets and explains why this skillset is going to become increasingly vital for benefits advisors in the coming years, as compliance becomes an ever more important differentiator during conversations with employers. /episode/index/show/4ee180ef-074b-4052-9979-cca6f3185679/id/38064650

The Beauty Of DPC — With Clint Flanagan 08/21/2025

The Beauty Of DPC — With Clint Flanagan Our latest conversation is with Clint Flanagan, a board-certified physician, direct-primary care pioneer, entrepreneur, and the founder and CMO of Nextera Healthcare. Dr. Flanagan has been around DPC since its earliest days and he has some fascinating insights about the incredible transformation that it has undergone over the years. We also delve into the more recent “localvore” movement, its relationship with DPC and current health care trends, and we also discuss why describing DPC as “innovative” isn’t entirely accurate. /episode/index/show/4ee180ef-074b-4052-9979-cca6f3185679/id/37905780

If You Don't Do Something About It, You're Complicit — With Dave Chase 08/05/2025

If You Don't Do Something About It, You're Complicit — With Dave Chase Health Rosetta co-founder and CEO, Dave Chase, shares how he draws inspiration from historical social movements and revolutions, explains why a relatively small spark can create a cultural wildfire, and details his quest to find and gather a community of advisors and employers who have “cracked the code.” /episode/index/show/4ee180ef-074b-4052-9979-cca6f3185679/id/37689050

We Can Move Faster — With Uche Enemchukwu 07/23/2025

We Can Move Faster — With Uche Enemchukwu Listen in for a wide-ranging discussion with Uche Enemchukwu, benefits attorney, strategy consultant, and CEO of Nelu Diversified Solutions, a global employee benefits consulting, certification, and technology provider. Uche offers her insights into the current state of the industry, the trends she’s watching around plan design and utilization, as well as how industry leaders can — and should — use their influence and spending power to push true innovation in the industry. And as always, we also dive into some fun topics, including the joys of being a PBS nerd, some killer Chicago food recommendations, and yes, plenty of book recommendations! /episode/index/show/4ee180ef-074b-4052-9979-cca6f3185679/id/37521095

Carrying The Torch — With Tracy Watts 07/11/2025

Carrying The Torch — With Tracy Watts In this episode, we sit down with Tracy Watts, senior partner, national leader for U.S. Health Care Policy at Mercer. We chat about a number of topics, including her thoughts on all the noise coming out of Washington D.C. right now, the latest round of fiduciary lawsuits and their potential impacts, and a few of the innovative benefits design strategies and ideas she’s watching most closely right now. Come for the benefits discussion, stay for the golf debates, killer recipes and cookbook recommendations! /episode/index/show/4ee180ef-074b-4052-9979-cca6f3185679/id/37374410

Why Can't We Turn The Sytem On Its Head? — With Chris Hamilton 06/18/2025

Why Can't We Turn The Sytem On Its Head? — With Chris Hamilton In this episode, we dig into a number of topics with our newly crowned BenefitsPRO Advisor of the Year, Chris Hamilton. Chris details his journey from commercial banking into the benefits space, shares what he calls “the Achilles’ heel of many traditional brokerages” and offers practical and detailed advice for employers and benefits advisors who are looking to explore the world of self-funding. We also spend some time chatting about some killer workouts that aren’t for the faint of heart, discussing the joys of drumming, and singing the praises of two of our favorite bands: Nirvana and the Foo Fighters. We hope you enjoy listening! /episode/index/show/4ee180ef-074b-4052-9979-cca6f3185679/id/37062310

The Stigma Is Real & Needs To Be Called Out — With Solome Tibebu 06/04/2025

The Stigma Is Real & Needs To Be Called Out — With Solome Tibebu In this episode, we chat with Solome Tibebu, founder and CEO of Behavioral Health Tech. The discussion touches on everything from the current state of behavioral health in the U.S., to Solome’s personal mental health journey and the key role that technology and benefits innovation can play in expanding access to mental health services and tools. We also discuss behavioral health during tough times, overcoming stage fright, strategies for reducing stigma, the impossible art of keeping houseplants alive, and much more! /episode/index/show/4ee180ef-074b-4052-9979-cca6f3185679/id/36838425

We Can't Burn The System Down, But It Has To Get Better — With Bill Hepscher 05/22/2025

We Can't Burn The System Down, But It Has To Get Better — With Bill Hepscher We're joined by Bill Hepscher, the founder of RXManage USA and The Canadian Medstore. Bill is a pioneer in the international medication industry, so we pick his brain about the history of this space, the origin story of his companies, and his thoughts on how the world of international meds has changed over the years. /episode/index/show/4ee180ef-074b-4052-9979-cca6f3185679/id/36678100

Problems Are Opportunities In Disguise — With Ali Goodwin 05/02/2025

Problems Are Opportunities In Disguise — With Ali Goodwin In this episode, we're joined by Ali Goodwin, the marketing director for TrueScripts. We talk about the noise surrounding PBMs and prescription drugs; discuss the importance of trying to do the right thing; and dig into how to filter out all the noise and bad actors and find people and companies that truly align with their mission. /episode/index/show/4ee180ef-074b-4052-9979-cca6f3185679/id/36416475

Confessions Of An Human Resources Executive — With Stephanie Koch 04/14/2025

Confessions Of An Human Resources Executive — With Stephanie Koch For our latest episode, we're joined by Stephanie Koch, director of human resources at Hendry Marine. She shares a few things she wishes benefits advisors knew about HR, reveals the biggest misconceptions about her role, and details her journey from status quo benefits to the world of self-funding. She also give a sneak peek of her upcoming session at the BenefitsPRO Broker Expo in Boston! /episode/index/show/4ee180ef-074b-4052-9979-cca6f3185679/id/36132120

Unshakeable Confidence — With Chelsea Ryckis 04/01/2025

Unshakeable Confidence — With Chelsea Ryckis For our first episode, we're joined by Chelsea Ryckis, the 2024 BenefisPRO Advisor of the Year and co-founder of Ethos Benefits. She shares her thoughts on the current state of employee benefits, how transparency and fiduciary shifts are impacting advisors and employers, her favorite music (kind of...) and more! /episode/index/show/4ee180ef-074b-4052-9979-cca6f3185679/id/35960735

Beyond Benefits

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