Liquid biopsy tests, blood tests with the potential to detect up to 50 types of cancers, are being embraced by some in the health care community but viewed with careful consideration by others.

In this episode, Jason Oke, medical statistician and lecturer at the University of Oxford’s Centre for Evidence-based Medicine, discusses the promise of these multi-cancer, early detection tests, alongside their limitations when it comes to real world application. He explains how effective screening tests of all kinds are measured, shares data from randomized trials that early detection tests show, and reveals how sensitivity, specificity, over-diagnosis and “healthy screenee bias” contribute to test value.

Employees are excited about the potential of these tests. Employers should listen in for an unbiased, data-backed perspective to determine if benefits programs should evolve to include this offering.

Guest: Jason Oke | Medical statistician and lecturer in medical statistics and cancer research at the University of Oxford

Older adults make up roughly 14% of the U.S. population but account for about 50% of health care spending. And as the country has fewer births with each generation, the health care system is challenged to support a “rectangular population” versus the “pyramid population” for which it was designed.

In this episode, Dr. John Rowe, geriatrician and Professor of Health Policy and Aging at Columbia University, explores how this population shift is transforming work, retirement and health care. He explains why core institutions must be re-engineered to better support older individuals and why longevity science has yet to deliver longer, healthier lives. Employers will gain insights for redesigning benefits across the employee life course, from paid parental leave and social connection to flexible retirement pathways, to build a more resilient, productive, age-inclusive workforce.

Guest: John Rowe, Geriatrician and Julius B. Richmond Professor of Health Policy and Aging at Columbia University

Medical errors related to misdiagnoses contribute to an estimated $870 billion in waste in the U.S. each year. Artificial intelligence (AI) may be the most powerful tool to change that.

In this episode, Laura Adams, Senior Advisor at the National Academy of Medicine, shares how her experience with a near-fatal medication error changed the trajectory of her career and now her focus on AI-driven patient safety initiatives. Listen in as the author of the National Academy of Medicine’s Code of Conduct for AI shares how AI improves real-time detection and prevention and how employers can empower patients with greater access to AI tools to reduce the ripple effects of medical harm.

Guest: Laura Adams, Senior Advisor, National Academy of Medicine

There is a focus driving your strategy, reason behind every change to your benefits program, and a story. It’s how you tell the story which determines how it lands, is accepted, and even embraced.

In this episode, we sit down with Christina Farr, author, health-tech advisor, investor and editor in Chief and CEO of Second Opinion Media, to explore why the art of storytelling is a crucial skill for all companies to learn, and how it can be particularly helpful skill for health and well-being leaders to more effectively communicate – and drive impact.

Employers will learn the importance of showing up with authenticity and empathy and how to use storytelling strategies to support big benefit changes and transformation in health care.

Guest: Christina Farr, author of The Storyteller’s Advantage: How Powerful Narratives Make Businesses Thrive and editor in Chief and CEO of Second Opinion Media

Climate change has emerged as a contributing factor to an increased risk of premature birth, low birth weight and stillbirth in the United States. In this episode, Bruce Bekkar, MD, explains this connection and outlines emerging intervention opportunities.

Employers will learn how these climate-related risks are both a business and inclusion concern and discover practical ways to educate, support and protect pregnant employees.

Guest: Dr. Bruce Bekkar, OBGYN and Climate Activist

Heart disease is the number one killer of people in the United States, and the leading cause of death globally. It is also the leading cause of death among women in the U.S., something that less than 50% of women realize.

In conjunction with American Heart Month, this episode features sudden cardiac arrest survivor Delya Sommerville and WomenHeart CEO Celina Gorre. Together, they share powerful personal stories, highlight the urgent need to improve women’s heart health, and offer a message of hope grounded in community, advocacy and prevention.

Tune in for ways employers can better assess the impact of their health and well-being programs to understand if they are meeting women’s needs today and in the future.

Guests: Delya Sommerville, WomenHeart Champion and Celina Gorre, Chief Executive Offer of WomenHeart

A staggering 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease, and more are being diagnosed at a younger age. However, there is good news. In this episode, Joanne Pike, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, shares the groundbreaking results of the US POINTER Study which proved that structured lifestyle interventions can slow cognitive decline.

The conversation shows that improved nutrition, increased physical activity, more social engagement and active health monitoring contribute to risk reduction. Employers should tune in to learn how these evidence-based improvements can be applied to workplace well-being and benefits programs, helping employees best maintain cognitive health and overall well-being as they age.

Guest: Joanne Pike, DrPH, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association

One in five deaths in the U.S. is the result of heart disease, yet most of us aren’t doing enough to prevent it. Regular physical activity is proven to slash risk, but more than half of US adults fall short of recommended guidelines. With weight-loss medications on the rise, could exercise take an even bigger back seat?

In this episode, Dr. Tamanna Singh, clinical and sports cardiologist, explains how “movement snacks,” plant?forward nutrition, and a better understanding of family history and medical literacy can work together to reduce cardiovascular risk by up to 80%. The episode also explores what GLP?1s mean for long?term health, when exercise is risky and why women’s heart health and weight?bearing activity deserve special attention, offering critical insights for employers aiming to create safer, more supportive workplaces.

Guest:

Upon receiving a cancer diagnosis, the first priority is to build a clinical treatment plan. But there is another equally important step in the path to recovery and well-being — supportive care.

In this episode, Les Biller from the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation describes the services that encompass supportive cancer care and shares how they can improve quality of life for both patients and caregivers. Individuals who are provided with proactive support can better navigate their cancer journey and remain more productive at work, improving overall health and well-being for patients and reducing costs to the employer.

Guest: Les Biller, Founding Director, The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation

Men’s life expectancy in the U.S. is falling behind men in other developed countries. As a result, the burden of men’s health is felt across the community and economy, costing the U.S. $420 billion from just the top five causes of premature death—many of which are preventable.

In this episode, authors of Movember’s “Real Face of Men’s Health” report, Peter Fisher and Derek Griffith, explore the reasons behind that staggering price tag and the “perception gap” that keeps men from seeking the help and support they need. Tune in as we unpack how the missed opportunities for prevention impact men, as well their families and caregivers.

Guests: