In this episode, Vanessa Longnecker, Jared Bowcutt, and Adam Compton welcome Powell Brown, CEO of Brown & Brown for a candid conversation about the evolving landscape of employee benefits, the impact of rapid growth and the role of AI in shaping the future. Powell shares insights on maintaining culture through expansion, the importance of trust and respect, and how technology can empower teams.  

The discussion covers regulatory trends, leadership lessons and what excites Powell most about the journey ahead. Whether you’re an HR leader, benefits consultant, or teammate at Brown & Brown, this episode delivers actionable perspectives for 2026 and beyond.

Connect with the hosts:

Jared Bowcutt

Vanessa Longnecker

Adam Compton 

The team welcomes Mark Abate and John Greenbaum from Brown & Brown’s retail leadership team. Together, they dive into the realities of rising healthcare costs, the challenges of affordability for employees and the evolving landscape of benefit strategies. The conversation explores how prescription drug trends, legislative changes, and rate pressures are shaping employer decisions, and why innovation—both big and small—is critical for the future.  

From curative drug therapies to simple but impactful benefits like ID theft protection and pet insurance, the team shares insights on how organizations can rethink total rewards to meet the diverse needs of a multi-generational workforce. 

Whether you’re a benefits leader, HR professional, or simply passionate about workplace wellbeing, this episode delivers practical perspectives and real-world examples to help you navigate complexity and drive positive change. 

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Jared Bowcutt

Vanessa Longnecker

Adam Compton

The team is joined by Ellen Kelsay, President & CEO of the Business Group on Health.  The discussion highlights how leading employers are responding to rising healthcare costs, global pressures, and evolving employee needs. The team explores trends in physical health, mental health and financial health . They also dive into social connectedness, community involvement, and the growing use of data and dashboards to drive accountability. The episode wraps up with actionable steps employers can take to strengthen well-being programs, boost engagement, and prepare for future challenges.

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Jared Bowcutt

Vanessa Longnecker

Adam Compton

In this episode of Benefits Breakdown, the team is joined by Josh Halperin, Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Consulting Services at Brown & Brown. Together, they explore the rapidly changing pharmacy landscape—how the surge in specialty drug approvals, the rise of GLP-1 medications, and shifting oncology treatments are reshaping employer health plans. The conversation unpacks the financial impact of these trends, the promise of biosimilars, and the challenges posed by new legislation, direct-to-consumer pharmacy models, and drug import tariffs. 

Whether you’re a benefits leader, HR professional, or simply passionate about the future of pharmacy benefits, this episode delivers actionable insights and real-world strategies to help you navigate complexity, control costs, and plan for what’s next.

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Jared Bowcutt

Vanessa Longnecker

Adam Compton

In this episode of The Benefits Breakdown, Sean Clem and Steve Piccolino from the Brown & Brown Benefits Technology team join us to explore the rapidly evolving world of benefits technology. From the integration of AI in administration to the critical role of employee engagement, they unpack how strategic tech investments are reshaping the employee experience.  

The conversation dives into emerging industry trends, the power of communication, and the future of HR technology—highlighting why organizations must adapt to stay ahead in the benefits landscape.

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Jared Bowcutt

Vanessa Longnecker

Adam Compton

In this episode of Benefits Breakdown, the team is joined by Rachel Jensen from the Population Health and Well-Being team at Brown & Brown. Together, they explore the concept of "friends as medicine" and how social connection, belonging and workplace culture directly impact employee health, retention and productivity. The conversation explores the latest trends in lifestyle medicine, including food as medicine, movement as medicine and the critical role of social well-being in today's evolving work environment.

Whether you're a benefits leader, HR professional or simply passionate about workplace wellness, this episode delivers actionable insights and real-world examples to help you drive positive change.

For more information, watch our Friends as Medicine webinar.

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Jared Bowcutt

Vanessa Longnecker

Adam Compton

Vanessa, Jared and Adam discuss the challenges and innovations shaping employee benefits during open enrollment season. With healthcare costs rising at record rates—often 10% or more—employers are exploring new funding models, direct-to-consumer pharmacy options and Centers of Excellence (COEs) to improve outcomes and control spend.  

The team highlights the importance of ongoing communication, data-driven decisions and leveraging technology to help employees make informed choices. Real-world examples show how COEs and alternative care models can deliver significant savings and better experiences. Employers are encouraged to audit their plans, build year-round engagement strategies and stay open to new ideas to thrive in a rapidly changing benefits landscape. 

Connect with the hosts:

Jared Bowcutt

Vanessa Longnecker

Adam Compton

Today on the Benefits Breakdown, Vanessa Longnecker, Jared Bowcutt and Adam Compton are joined by Meghan Pistritto and Dr. Wendy Coduti from Prudential to unpack the findings of the “2025 Benefits and Beyond” study. The conversation explores the growing intersection of financial stress, mental health, and employee well-being—and how employers can better support their teams. 

The episode highlights key insights from the study, including: 

• A disconnect between employer intentions and employee perceptions of support. 
• The need for holistic wellness strategies that integrate financial, mental, physical and social health. 
• Best practices for ongoing communication, benefit education and building trust. 
• The importance of leadership modeling vulnerability and mental health openness. 
• Real-world examples of flexible work, embedded support services and proactive manager training. 

With personal stories, practical strategies and a call to action for cultural change, this episode is a must-listen for HR leaders, benefit professionals and anyone committed to helping employees thrive in 2025 and beyond. 

Connect with the hosts:

Jared Bowcutt

Vanessa Longnecker

Adam Compton

In this episode of Benefits Breakdown, Adam Compton, Jared Bowcutt, and guests Leyla Bilge, Casey Cullinan, and Paul Berryman explore the evolving landscape of digital wellness and its critical role in employee well-being and organizational resilience. 

From the rise of AI-driven scams to the emotional toll of identity theft, the panel discusses how employers can proactively support their workforce through integrated HR and cybersecurity strategies. Leyla Bilge shares insights from her research on scam evolution and digital stress, while Casey Cullinan highlights the ROI of digital wellness programs and the importance of privacy, protection, and financial stability. Paul Berryman emphasizes the need for cross-functional collaboration between HR and security teams to build holistic support systems. 

Real-life scenarios, best practices, and forward-looking strategies make this a must-listen for HR leaders, benefit professionals, and anyone navigating the digital frontier of work.

Connect with the hosts:

Jared Bowcutt

Vanessa Longnecker

Adam Compton

In this insightful follow-up episode, Adam and Jared are joined by Chelsea Hamilton and Sam Thomeier from herronpalmer to explore the evolving landscape of total rewards, pay transparency and the role of AI in enhancing employee experience. From digital delivery to hyper-personalization, the team discusses how employers can build trust through thoughtful communication, empathy and transparency.  

With real-world examples and generational insights, this episode offers practical strategies for navigating the future of benefits with both innovation and heart.

Connect with the hosts:

Jared Bowcutt

Vanessa Longnecker

Adam Compton