Aaron travels to Marion, Virginia to talk with physical therapist Lindsey King, a recent recipient of the prestigious Scott and Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award.

Lindsey shares what inspired her to pursue physical therapy, why she values a career focused on helping others improve their quality of life, and how her faith and commitment to service keep her centered in her work. Her story is a powerful example of our values in action.

To launch our 2026 season, Josh and Aaron sit down with Niswonger Children’s Network CEO Chris Jett. Chris shares his career journey leading up to Ballad Health, why the Niswonger Children’s Network is vital to our region, updates on renovations to Niswonger Children’s Hospital, and the leadership lessons he has learned.

This episode is a festive B Excellent Podcast Holiday Special! In this episode, the podcast crew - Josh, Aaron, Taylor, Tucker, and Toby - reflect on the origins of the show and revisit some of their favorite interviews, moments, and pieces of advice from across the year. It’s a great listen if you’re looking for inspiration, a few laughs, and some meaningful reminders during this season of reflection.

Aaron and Josh traveled to Johnson City Medical Center to sit down with JCMC’s new CEO, Rebecca Beck. In their conversation, Rebecca talks about her career journey, her enthusiasm for leading the Johnson City team, and how she and her teams at HVMC and IPCH have incorporated B Excellent principles into their daily workflow. It’s an inspiring episode filled with practical insights and valuable leadership perspective.

Josh sits down with Dr. Matthew Loos, Chief Academic Officer, and Dr. Quincy Byrdsong, Vice President of Research Operations, from Ballad Health’s Research and Academics department. Together, they explore how research and academics support innovation and continuous learning across our organization, helping lay the foundation for our B Excellent journey.

You’ll also hear about their personal career paths, what drew them to the world of academic medicine and research, and how they each find balance and renewal outside of work.

It’s an inspiring look at how curiosity, integrity, and a love of learning can help shape our culture as a whole. 

In the latest episode of the B Excellent Podcast, Josh and Aaron visit Lee County Community Hospital to talk with Paulina Thompson, RN, and nurse manager Savanah Bowen, RN, about the hospital’s remarkable journey since reopening. Paulina and Savanah share how their team has maintained high performance metrics by focusing on quality over quantity and fostering a culture of accountability and care.

They describe how B Excellent principles are actively shaping daily interactions - encouraging intentional communication, positive reinforcement, and teamwork that continue to strengthen both patient outcomes and workplace culture.

 Josh and Aaron sit down with Debbie Dover, Ballad Health’s Senior Vice President of Talent Engagement and Chief Human Resources Officer.

Debbie shares insights from her career journey, the lessons that have shaped her leadership, and why stepping outside of your comfort zone is essential for growth.

She also offers a behind-the-scenes look at how B Excellent is helping transform the culture at Ballad Health

Sheri Phillips, Multi-facility Director of Patient Experience, joins the show to share how she brings the B Excellent mindset into interactions patient and families. She also talks about leading through difficult conversations and staying focused on purpose and compassion.

Josh and Aaron visit Norton Community Hospital to sit down with Jeremy Carlson, Chief Nursing Officer for Ballad Health’s Wise, Dickenson, and Lee County hospitals.

Jeremy shares how he champions the B Excellent culture by helping his teams put its lessons into practical action every day. The conversation explores Jeremy’s journey into healthcare and how his own time as a patient deepened his commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality care. 

Dr. Lisa Smithgall, Ballad Health’s chief nursing executive, joins Josh and Aaron to share how B Excellent came to life, the impact it’s already having on care and collaboration, and her personal “why” for choosing a career in healthcare.