In this episode of Haverin About, Stuart and Bethany dive into the HLTH 2025 conference in Las Vegas — exploring the conference’s origins, the reality behind the polished branding, and what actually happens when healthcare vendors, investors, payers, tech companies, and executives collide in one massive event.

Stuart shares his HLTH experience after attending industry conferences for over 35 years, while Bethany adds her take from last year’s event. Together, they dig into:

• Why HLTH exists and how it compares to HIMSS and ViVE
• The rise of “AI-everything” and the lack of substance behind many claims
• Celebrity speakers like Rob Lowe and Mark Cuban are delivering wildly conflicting messages
• What attendees really get from these events (and what they don’t)
• Vendor goals: brand awareness, lead generation, partnerships, investment
• The reality of secret-suite meetings, investor tribes, and on-floor chaos
• The good, the bad, and the unexpectedly funny moments (lime-green umbrellas included)
• This is Part 1 of a two-episode conversation. Part 2 continues the breakdown of HLTH and the future of health conferences.

00:00 — Intro & why we’re talking HLTH

02:00 — First impressions of HLTH 2025

06:00 — HLTH vs. HIMSS & ViVE

11:00 — Rob Lowe, Mark Cuban & conflicting messages

17:00 — What conferences really deliver

27:00 — AI hype, tribes & trends

38:00 — Wrap-up & Part 2 preview

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