In this episode of Insurance Town, the Mayor sits down with Brian Ahearn to unpack the difference between social media influence and true leadership influence, while also sharing a meaningful conversation around faith, family, and the responsibility that comes with leading well. Brian reflects on how becoming a grandfather has reshaped how he thinks about legacy, humility, and the kind of influence that truly matters, both at home and in leadership.

The conversation also dives into Brian’s new book, Influenced From Above, a business parable that blends leadership principles with faith driven purpose. Together, Brian and the Mayor discuss what it means to be influenced from above in their own lives, leading with empathy, serving others, and aligning values with action. The takeaway is clear: real influence is not about getting people to say yes, but about building trust, relationships, and a legacy that lasts.

Key Takeaways

• Why social media influence is not the same as true leadership
• How faith and family shape the way leaders influence others
• Lessons from Influenced From Above on humility and service
• Why empathy and trust are the foundation of lasting leadership

Sponsors

• Smart Choice – The fastest growing agency network hand down, no fees, higher commissions, lower premium thredhhold
• Canopy Connect – A one click solution to getting dec pages to quote your prospect and now they have intake platofrm
• MAV – Ditch the call center and hire MAV, the AI powered text messaging agent to qualify, quote& connect your prospects to your producers

In this episode of Insurance Town, host Heath Shearon welcomes Van Carlson to discuss the evolution of risk management and the importance of self-insuring for businesses. They explore the 831B tax code, its history, and its application in modern business risk management. Van shares insights from his career in the insurance industry, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in self-insuring and the role of traditional insurance. The conversation also touches on the impact of economic downturns and the need for innovative risk management solutions.

Takeaways

• Van Carlson emphasizes the importance of self-insuring for businesses.
• The 831B tax code offers a way to manage business risks effectively.
• Traditional insurance may not cover all business risks.
• Economic downturns highlight the need for innovative risk management.
• Van Carlson shares his journey in the insurance industry.
• Self-insuring can provide financial stability for businesses.
• The conversation explores the history and application of the 831B tax code.
• Van Carlson discusses the challenges of transitioning from traditional insurance.
• Heath Shearon highlights the role of education in risk management.
• The episode provides insights into modern business risk management strategies.

Sound bites

• "Self-insuring is the future of business risk management."
• "The 831B tax code is a game changer."
• "Traditional insurance doesn't cover all risks."
• "Economic downturns demand innovative solutions."
• "Education is key in managing business risks."
• "Self-insuring provides financial stability."
• "The 831B code offers unique advantages."
• "Transitioning from traditional insurance is challenging."
• "Risk management requires continuous learning."
• "Modern businesses need modern risk solutions."

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Introduction and Sponsorship
• 00:00:00 Van Carlson's Background
• 00:00:00 The 831B Tax Code Explained
• 00:00:00 Challenges in Traditional Insurance
• 00:00:01 Innovative Risk Management Solutions
• 00:00:01 The Future of Business Risk Management

Sponsors:

Smart Choice
Canopy Connect
MAV

In this weeks episode I sit down with Dylan Dimarchi of Eventual to talk about A product that is super cool 

In this engaging conversation, Heath Shearon and Alex Rodov explore the vibrant culture of Toronto, the evolution of technology and quality assurance, and the critical role of testing in the insurance industry. Alex shares his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a leader in the tech space, emphasizing the importance of methodology and the pressures faced in quality assurance. They discuss the challenges of trusting technology, the significance of consumer education, and the future of QA technology, including Alex's new book on testing.

Takeaways
Growing up in Toronto inspired Alex's passion for technology.
Quality assurance has evolved significantly over the years.
Pressure in QA is a constant, especially in critical industries.
Methodology is essential for effective software testing.
Consumer education is vital for understanding technology's reliability.
The insurance industry heavily relies on quality assurance processes.
Alex's book aims to educate consumers about testing.
Investing in QA technology is crucial for future advancements.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Toronto: A Cultural Hub
06:03 The Evolution of Quality Assurance in Tech
13:48 The Importance of Methodology in QA
22:02 The Role of QA in the Insurance Industry
30:12 Investing in the Future of QA Technology

Sponsors:
Smart Choice- the fastest growing agency network hands down
Canopy Connect- your 1 click solution for all things dec pages, intake platforms etc
MAV- the AI-powered insurance expert that engages unlimited leads with text messaging 

in this weeks episode I sat down with my good friend Poppy Danker and have a blast talking about this small down agency and how she has just exploded in growth using social media. Yes you heard that right. Its wild to see!! Ive been watching this agency since the beginning from 500 followers to now over 25k followers and viral videos and the whole thing. its so fun. 

You just gotta hear this one ...

sponsored by :
Smart Choice 
Canopy Connect 
MAV

This week in Insurance Town I sat down with my friend Evan Smith of Mav. We had an incredible conversation about growing your sales with leads and building an inside sales team .

We discussed the importance of recognizing that you have to have a vision and a plan before working with leads and not try to scale too quickly

We discussed the idea of there is no “bad lead” and what that means. We discover ways to write any lead . The numbers game that is leads and why MAV is THE go to for scaling and growing you business with online leads.

Check this one out and hear his three pillars of working with leads successfully. And so much more

Sponsors:
Smart Choice® the fastest growing agency network hands down and now with 11,000 agencies across the country

Canopy Connect -THE one click solution to getting the dec pages you need to quote your prospects and get loss runs and driver lists , and vehicle lists and , and and… check it out

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 In this episode of the Insurance Town Podcast, Heath Shearon hosts Christopher Frankland to discuss the intersection of technology and insurance, focusing on AI's impact on the industry. They explore the concept of the 'bionic agent,' the role of AI in transforming insurance processes, and the future of human interaction in a tech-driven world. The conversation also touches on personal anecdotes, the importance of adapting to technological changes, and the potential for AI to enhance customer experiences.

Takeaways:

• AI is transforming the insurance industry by automating processes and enhancing customer experiences.
• The concept of the 'bionic agent' combines human expertise with AI technology.
• Adapting to technological changes is crucial for staying relevant in the industry.
• AI is no longer just a buzzword; it's a fundamental shift in how we work.
• The insurance industry is fragmented, with varying levels of AI adoption.
• Human interaction remains essential, even as automation increases.
• AI can help solve real problems and tackle industry challenges.
• The future of insurance involves a blend of technology and human touch.
• AI's role in insurance is evolving, with potential for real-time risk assessment.
• Education and upskilling are vital for embracing AI in the industry.

Sound Bites:

• AI is transforming insurance.
• The bionic agent is the future.
• Adapt to tech changes or fall behind.
• AI is a fundamental shift.
• Human interaction is still key.
• AI solves real industry problems.
• The future blends tech and human touch.
• Real-time risk assessment is coming.
• Education is key for AI adoption.
• AI is beyond just a buzzword.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
• 00:00:00 AI's Impact on Insurance
• 00:00:01 The Bionic Agent Concept
• 00:00:02 Adapting to Technological Changes
• 00:00:03 Future of Human Interaction in Insurance

Sponsors:
Smart Choice Agents Program- the fastest growing agency network hands down.
Canopy Connect: Your one click solution for getting everything you need to quote your prospects 

This is an episode recorded at the PIA VADC conference in Virginia Beach with my man Byron Roberts.  It is a fast, on-the-ground conversation about how Openly built for independent agents, why speed still matters, and how data is shifting from rearview mirror to windshield. 
Quick recap

Openly’s origin story is agent-first. Founders Ty Harris and Matt Duffy asked agents what they actually needed, then shipped a three-question quote experience built to find “diamonds in the rough,” not write everything in sight. The company doubled down on listening loops like ACE, its Agency Council of Excellence, to sanity-check product decisions, fix friction fast, and keep writing business during a stubborn hard market. They are rolling into PL Rating in key states to cut keystrokes, and they see the next frontier as forward-looking data that helps carriers price for tomorrow’s weather, not yesterday’s. 

Key takeaways

• Built by and for independent agents, not DTC. Choice and counsel are the strategy. 
• Three inputs to quote, then verify details to bind accurately and quickly. Think seconds, not hours. 
• ACE council gives Openly real-time agent feedback and a promise to report back on changes. 
• Smart underwriting beats growth at any cost. Openly tightens or tweaks instead of pulling out. 
• PL Rating integrations are in motion to reduce double entry and speed comparisons. 
• Data is shifting from historical to predictive. Actuaries need “crystal balls,” not just rearview mirrors. 

Notable quotes

“Tell me I can’t, I’ll show you I will.” Byron on persistence.

“Three questions, name, date of birth, and address. We can get it.” On the quoting thesis.

“We’re staying open for these agencies. We don’t tighten everything down or pull out.” On disciplined appetite.

“We used to look at historical data. Now we need crystal balls.” On forward-looking pricing.

Sponsor 
Smart Choice- The fastest growing insurance network, with 10,000 agencies, 11 billion in written premium written its incredible
Canopy Connect- your 1 click solution to getting the deck pages you need to quote your prospects. 

In this weeks episode, the mayor sits down with his good friend Tinsley English to discuss her latest book titled Grit, Growth & Gumption. But this episode is way beyond that we discuss being a leader in this service industry. We discuss the challenges, the customer service, reps face, the challenges that managers face.

We also discuss accepting God’s calling in your life no matter how difficult that might be, or scary that might be. This episode is a really really good one. 

I couldn’t do this show without my amazing sponsors 

Smart Choice – the fastest growing agency network hands-down. With over 10,000 agencies across the country, trusting them and over 11 billion written premium

Canopy connect – you’re one click solution to getting the deck pages you need to quote your prospects

In this episode, the Mayor sits down with industry veteran Jeff Kleid  a 30-year insurance innovator, MGA, and carrier leader  to talk about the business of hard-to-place risks, the truth about captives, and how brokers can turn complex accounts into profitable opportunities.

From selling insurance on the internet in the ‘90s to building niche programs for cannabis, film, and trucking, Jeff shares real-world lessons about taking chances, trusting data, and transforming the way independent agents think about risk.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The evolution from retail broker to MGA and carrier
• Why most agents misunderstand captives (and how to use them right)
• Building programs for high-risk industries like towing and hemp
• How to niche down without boxing yourself in
• The role of AI in underwriting and program innovation

Key Takeaways:

• Don’t fear the hard-to-place — that’s where opportunity lives.
• Captives aren’t restrictive; they empower growth and control.
• Niche success is built on relationships and risk awareness.
• AI is a tool, not a replacement — human insight still wins the day.

Connect with Jeff Kleid:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jeffkleid

• Email: [email protected]

• Website: eliterisk.com

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:
🧡 Smart Choice – The fastest-growing agency network helping independent agents write more business and earn more income.
🔗 Canopy Connect – The easiest way to collect your client’s insurance information in seconds.