HWL Talks

As school districts face increasing workforce complexity, growing talent shortages, and greater demand for specialized support, many leaders are realizing that traditional staffing alone is no longer enough.

In this episode of HWL Talks, Tommy Binner sits down with Jamie Herold, M.Ed., Senior Vice President of HWL Education, to discuss how workforce management is transforming the future of PK-12 education. With more than 25 years of experience as a teacher, principal, chief academic officer, and education workforce leader, Jamie shares why HWL Education was built by educators, designed specifically for education, and how a vendor-neutral workforce management model helps districts move beyond reactive staffing.

Together, they discuss:

• Why education workforce challenges have evolved beyond traditional staffing 
• The similarities between healthcare and education workforce management 
• How vendor-neutral workforce management provides greater visibility, efficiency, and strategic oversight 
• The importance of supporting school leaders so they can focus on students, educators, and outcomes 
• Why the future of education workforce management is built on data, transparency, and long-term workforce strategy 

Whether you're a superintendent, HR leader, special education administrator, or district decision-maker, this conversation offers valuable insights into how school systems can build stronger workforce strategies while creating better outcomes for educators and students alike.

Rural healthcare leaders are being asked to do the impossible—deliver high-quality care with fewer resources, tighter margins, and an increasingly strained workforce. In this episode of HWL Talks, host Tommy Binner welcomes back Aidan Hettler, CEO of Sedgwick County Health Center, for a candid conversation about what it really takes to lead and grow a rural hospital today.

Aidan shares his unconventional journey to becoming a CEO at just 22 years old and reflects on the lessons learned while stabilizing and expanding a critical access hospital on the front lines of rural care. The conversation explores workforce recruitment and retention in frontier communities, building culture through personal connection, and why retention strategies must be dynamic—not one-size-fits-all.

Aidan also dives into how technology and AI are helping rural hospitals close long-standing gaps—from reducing clinician burnout to strengthening documentation, payer negotiations, and data-driven decision-making. The episode closes with a thoughtful discussion on the future of rural healthcare, the realities behind the $50B rural health funding headlines, and what true transformation will require beyond temporary relief.

This is an honest, practical look at leadership, resilience, and innovation in rural healthcare—straight from someone living it every day.

In this episode of HWL Talks, host Tommy Benner sits down with Nancy Bourg, RN, BSHCA, MBA, Executive Vice President of Insourcing and Chief Clinical Officer at HWL, for a candid conversation on the past, present, and future of the nursing workforce.

With decades of experience spanning bedside nursing, agency staffing, and health system leadership, Nancy shares how early efforts to aggregate spend and standardize contracts laid the foundation for today’s MSP, VMS, and internal resource pool models. Together, they unpack the realities facing nursing in 2026—from burnout and bedside shortages to generational shifts, travel nursing evolution, and why flexibility is no longer optional.

Nancy also offers a compelling reframing of nursing as a revenue protector, not just a cost center, and explains why hospitals must rethink culture, career pathways, and flexible staffing models to retain talent long term. This episode is a must-listen for healthcare leaders looking to balance cost, quality, and clinician experience in a rapidly changing workforce landscape.

Season 2 of HWL Talks kicks off with a powerful conversation featuring Kent McMackin, Chief Operating Officer of Syncoro Health LLC, Navy veteran, and healthcare leader with more than four decades of experience spanning clinical care, hospital administration, physician services, and workforce strategy.

Kent shares how his early years in clinical medicine and 23-year Navy career shaped his leadership philosophy, grounding it in service, empathy, and accountability. Together with host Tommy Binner, he explores the realities facing healthcare today—from physician shortages and rural hospital closures to chronic disease burden and the evolving role of technology in care delivery.

This episode dives deep into:

• Why workforce strategy directly impacts patient outcomes
• The balance between “high-tech” systems and “high-touch” human connection
• What rural healthcare needs to survive and adapt
• How MSPs and data-driven workforce models can improve retention, reduce cost, and strengthen provider partnerships
• Why honesty, integrity, and listening to clinicians are critical to sustainable healthcare transformation

A must-listen for healthcare executives, workforce leaders, and anyone passionate about building a system that supports providers while keeping patients at the center.

As we close out the year, HWL Talks welcomes a special guest—HWL Co-Founder and President Jonathan Ward—for a candid conversation on the state and future of healthcare staffing.

With more than 30 years of industry experience, Jonathan reflects on the biggest workforce challenges healthcare organizations face today, from ongoing staffing shortages and financial pressure to the growing role of AI, data, and transparency in workforce decision-making. He shares how contingent labor models, MSP and VMS adoption, and smarter analytics are reshaping nursing, allied, and physician staffing—and why the next phase of innovation must focus on reducing friction for both healthcare organizations and agency partners.

Jonathan also offers a look ahead at what excites him most about HWL’s evolution, including investments in advanced analytics, greater pricing transparency, and technology designed to support long-term, sustainable workforce strategies.

Whether you’re a healthcare leader, recruiter, or workforce strategist, this episode offers valuable insight into where the industry has been—and where it’s headed next.

In this episode of HWL Talks, we sit down with Dr. Akram Boutros, a leader who has spent his career bridging medicine, business, and innovation. Now the founder and CEO of Nexus Bedside, Dr. Boutros is pushing the boundaries of what inpatient care can look like through virtual nursing models and advanced multimodal AI.

Dr. Boutros shares why traditional healthcare leadership often stalls innovation, how fearlessness (not recklessness) drives meaningful progress, and why fixing the nursing crisis requires more than staffing—it requires rethinking the entire care environment. He also breaks down real outcomes from Nexus Bedside, including major reductions in documentation burden, improved nurse experience, and measurable gains in patient safety.

This conversation offers a candid look at leadership, risk-taking, and the future of high-touch, technology-supported care. For executives, clinical leaders, and innovators looking beyond incremental change, this episode provides a clear view of what bold transformation can look like.

In Episode 11 of HWL Talks, host Tommy Binner sits down with Shane Jackson—President of Jackson Healthcare, author, philanthropist, and leadership thought leader.

Shane shares insights from his new book, This Is the Thing, and opens up about the challenges and opportunities facing healthcare leaders today. From navigating the rapid rise of AI and its impact on healthcare staffing, to fostering cultures that prioritize retention over reaction, Shane delivers candid perspective on what it takes to lead during times of uncertainty.

Whether you’re a healthcare executive, workforce strategist, or simply passionate about leadership, this episode offers powerful takeaways on staying grounded in your values while embracing innovation.

In this episode of HWL Talks, host Tommy Binner sits down with healthcare pioneer Joane Goodroe—a nurse, administrator, entrepreneur, and national thought leader who has testified before Congress on healthcare cost models.

Joane shares her remarkable journey from the ICU to shaping Medicare pilot programs, pioneering gainsharing, and challenging the long-held belief that lowering costs means lowering quality. Together, Tommy and Joane explore:

• Why healthcare costs have skyrocketed from $725 billion in 1990 to $4.9 trillion today—and where they’re headed
• How bundled payments and gainsharing created new models for cost savings without sacrificing quality
• The impact of regulations, drug pricing, and chronic disease on the future of healthcare access
• Why retaining nurses and empowering frontline staff is critical to solving today’s workforce crisis
• Fresh perspectives on pharmacy disruption, telemedicine, and what really needs to change

Joane also shares a personal story of resilience through her son’s journey with autism, highlighting how perseverance and innovation can reshape possibilities in healthcare and beyond.

Tune in for an inspiring and eye-opening discussion on the urgent need to rethink cost, quality, and workforce sustainability in healthcare.

On this episode of HWL Talks, host Amanda Wheeler, VP of Insourcing at HWL, sits down with two powerhouse leaders: Laurie DiMarzio, SVP of Client Services at HWL, and Darlene Souza, SVP & CHRO at South Shore Health. What started as a high-stakes workforce challenge during the height of the pandemic evolved into a true partnership built on trust, transparency, and transformative collaboration.

Together, they explore:

• The “likeability dilemma” women face in leadership—and how to rise above it
• What it really means to be kind (but not necessarily nice) in business
• How vulnerability, emotional intelligence, and active listening can build lasting partnerships
• Tips for fostering connection and respect—even in moments of disagreement

This episode is a candid conversation about breaking molds, supporting other women, and redefining what leadership looks like in healthcare. Whether you're a seasoned executive or emerging leader, you’ll walk away with inspiration—and actionable takeaways—for building stronger, more collaborative teams.

In this episode of HWL Talks, host Tommy Binner sits down with Amanda Wheeler, RN, BSN, MBA — HWL’s Vice President of InSourcing and a fourth-generation nurse — to unpack the complex state of the nursing workforce.

From the lasting impact of burnout to the importance of flexible staffing models, Amanda shares insights drawn from her extensive clinical and executive experience. The conversation explores how healthcare systems can transition from reactive crisis management to proactive, sustainable workforce strategies — with a special focus on the value of internal contingent models, predictive analytics, and Gen Z’s evolving expectations.

You’ll hear:

• Why healthcare must prioritize workforce well-being to improve patient care
• How flexible internal staffing models reduce turnover and burnout
• Strategies for bridging the generational gap in nursing
• What it means to move from “just-in-time” to “ready all the time”

Whether you're a nurse, healthcare executive, or industry observer, this episode offers a candid, experience-rich perspective on reshaping the future of nursing.